296 Dekan’s identity as the Bishop of Pain has been exposed.
Originally, the viewers in other kingdom regions, after experiencing a period of blackout, were finally able to see the scene of the Filowen Capital again.
But the sight was utterly hopeless.
Even with six bishops yet to appear, the sky was already overcast with dark clouds, as if they could fall at any moment. The atmosphere was suffocating, leaving the residents of the capital unable to breathe.
The Pope showcased a power akin to a divine being descending upon the mortal world.
Despite the instant of calamity, the still-mobile staff instinctively began to flee.
However, some brave workers, holding the spirit of wartime journalists, prioritized running to activate the backup magical recording equipment and restored the broadcast.
Regardless of victory or defeat, it was necessary to convey the state of the Filowen Kingdom to the outside world.
…
Inside the Filowen Coliseum.
“Can’t be… little Pope…”
Dekan looked up at the Pope, who had originally been almost forced back but managed to forcibly descend here using his own energy, and muttered.
The magic power of an individual life could actually fill the gap of a national magic energy station?
Dekan felt his scalp go numb.
Although he was used to encountering opponents several levels above him,
the Pope’s intensity seemed beyond the usual description of a ninth-rank.
Perhaps it was nearing the peak of the ninth rank.
Even without showing any magic cards, the Pope’s monstrous attributes could easily annihilate eighth-rank warriors.
Dekan was uncertain if the 120 times pain feedback could even stun this monster for a moment.
You already exceed the strength of a late-phase BOSS.
You can compete for the title of Final BOSS!
“Did you think about confronting the Pope when you were rank three and fighting bishops?”
Shien was interviewing Dekan with no sense of tension, seemingly forgetting that the Pope intended to kill her first and Dekan second.
“You can stop gloating! Can you act like a proper ninth-rank elder!”
Dekan had never teamed up with an ally like Shien before. Even in crucial moments, she was still messing with her teammate’s mindset.
If there was another teammate option, he’d rather have Shien on the opposite side.
But now, to deal with the Pope, this annoying diviner would have to do.
Under normal circumstances, Dekan never intended to face the Pope this early.
He would need a few more years of preparation, advancing to at least rank seven or eight, and for his teammates to become stronger.
He would also require comprehensive intelligence gathering and strategic planning to ensure a 100% success rate in defeating the Pope.
But there’s no help for it.
While Dekan was growing, the Rebirth Church was also seeking opportunities.
The Pope wouldn’t send the bishops one by one but came himself with all the bishops to kill Dekan, who is only at rank five!
According to the normal story pace, a healthy-developing protagonist should still be laughing and joking around in the school at this time.
There’s no way they should be caught by a Final BOSS-level enemy using teleportation.
“Could this be the retribution for sacrificing merit?”
Dekan couldn’t help but reflect on his actions over the past year.
So be it.
Even if the Pope was just sent back a moment ago, allowing him to escape this disaster,
the Rebirth Church, as long as they held this space-jump gate, could continuously plan unpreventable surprise attacks.
Dekan and his side would be in constant worry.
Might as well play along with the Rebirth Church’s plans.
After all, this is a rare opportunity for the Rebirth Church to destroy the lifeline of the Kingdom Union.
But for Dekan and Shien, they also held a hidden advantage.
That the Rebirth Church was unaware of their preemptive preparation and the mole that the Pope hadn’t found!
The Pope must have believed in his assured victory until this moment.
So fighting decisively here to destroy the space jump gate is also a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Dekan and Shien!
…
Right above the coliseum.
The space gate was completed in a strange way.
The Pope stepped through it, arriving in Filowen Capital.
However, in the moment he arrived, due to an abrupt energy switch, the spatial magic became unstable.
Before the six Bishops behind him could emerge, the space structure around the gate became twisted and chaotic.
The Pope wrinkled his brows and glanced back.
Disrupting the energy at the last moment seriously hindered their plan.
The Pope picked up a seal resembling the Bishop’s Certificate but far more profound and mysterious.
Dekan knew exactly what it was the moment he saw the seal.
It was the authority of the Pope of the Rebirth Church.
The Pope used this wretched item to seal off Dekan’s normal chat permissions!
At this moment, the Pope seemed to ignore both Shien and Dekan as he began to stabilize the space gate by replenishing energy.
It was apparent that the activation rights of this gate were linked to the Pope’s authority, ensuring only the Pope could use it.
“Those six don’t need to come!”
Shien wouldn’t let the Pope have his way.
As soon as the Pope pulled out the authority, both Shien and the Pope moved.
Their clash was as simple as comparing their ninth-tier magic power with straightforward magic attacks.
On this level of combat, everything had returned to its simplest form, discarding complexity.
When their powers collided, silence reigned for an uncanny moment!
There was no explosion, no sound of impact. It was as if two intangible arcs of light collided.
Triggering a strong distortion in the air, their intersection first gave birth to a luminous sphere.
Then, with the shocks from both sides, the sphere began to inflate!
And at that moment.
Finally, it seemed as if there was a strange distortion in everyone’s vision, the audio becoming completely distorted.
This scene seemed to have lasted for long yet just an instant, finally emitting a “zzzz” sound.
Seeing the light orb in the middle, it suddenly unleashed a series of electric cocoons like light snakes, flowing non-stop.
The delayed sound in the live broadcast left people witnessing a nine-rank clash completely dazed!
Though the clamor wasn’t loud, they could feel what the Pope and Shien were doing in this terrifying clash.
Even the eighth-rank Empire Sword Saint and Holy Knight Commander merely gripped their swords, hesitating to attack.
They wanted to try attacking the Pope but were well aware that acting hastily in the previous clash would be like a gnat trying to break a tree.
If they provoked a counter-attack from the Pope, they might be annihilated instantly!
Finally, the orb in the middle couldn’t withstand the collision of the two nine-rank powers and exploded!
First, a ripple of silence spread outwards, then that sphere shrank several times before abruptly swelling violently… and then…
“BOOM!!”
With this loud sound,
the city was instantly illuminated, and centered around the arena, the glass of surrounding buildings shattered and scattered everywhere!
Although Shien already began panting on the ground, the Pope in the sky remained motionless, as if that was just a casual move for him.
The sheer disparity in mana strength.
And the Pope was still supplying mana to the space gate, attempting to allow the bishops to descend together.
The gate would soon reform, and Shien’s interference was evidently a failure.
“You must be aware of the gap between us.”
The Pope’s voice became cold and serious, resonating like the sound of falling winter ice shards.
Whether it was attack magic or control magic,
Shien could not interfere or affect him.
This is the gap of absolute strength.
“Agamemnon, have you ever experienced the allure of the netherworld?”
Shien just laughed brightly and asked from the ground,
acting as if she was entirely unconcerned about the soon-to-be-restored gate.
At that moment, the Pope suddenly remembered something, glaring back at Dekan.
As far as he knew, there indeed was a spell that could neither be defended nor avoided!
Just during the time Shien clashed with him, Dekan had equipped the “Thorn Crown” and “Cursed Doll” and summoned the “Ruined Bard” and “Lamenting Mermaid.”
Shien’s attack wasn’t intended to interrupt the Pope but to prevent the Pope from disrupting Dekan’s casting.
“Have you not thought for a long time about how your cruel church tortures the weak, pitiable, and helpless like me?! Compensate my mental distress!”
Coupled with Dekan’s outcry against the Rebirth Church,
Shien’s “Compulsory Dispelling” had already reached the Pope, ensuring he couldn’t use “Pain Shielding” to resist.
120 times pain attack!
This was something Dekan had meticulously prepared, waiting for the right moment to unleash it on the Pope if he actually decided to show up!
The Pope’s figure trembled.
Although it wasn’t apparent if the Pope was injured, it could be seen that the space gate that was just about to stabilize was beginning to become chaotic again.
Dekan’s pain attack had indeed taken effect.
Dekan’s interference had exactly caught the space gate at the moment it was about to stabilize. The gate was now oscillating precariously between stability and collapse.
And it was no longer within the Pope’s capability to stabilize it.
After all, the Pope himself did not master space magic, merely guiding this magical device.
“Hurry! If you stay, you’ll be teleported to an unknown location!”
Shadow Bishop Minos, one of the developers, was the first to rush towards the turbulent space gate.
If they continued to linger, they would either be lost in the space tunnel or teleported to a random place, possibly even to an alternate dimension!
The other bishops acted decisively to follow Minos.
But even so, the wave-like spatial turbulence swept through, teleporting them to unseen positions.
Except for the Pope who successfully descended to the target position,
the other bishops seemed to have been teleported to different coordinates.
The next second, the city defense system of the Philowen Capital began to sound the alarm!
Some of the bishops had landed within the city of Philowen Capital, not far from the transmission point!
Most other bishops were likely around or within the capital.
“Three inside the capital, three in the suburbs.”
Shien spoke in a dark tone.
As the glow from the sapphire bracelet on her wrist lit up slightly, Shien, who controlled the central defense shield of the Philowen Capital, quickly ascertained the situation.
The earliest to act were the Shadow Bishop, the most capable End Bishop, and the Illusory Bishop, who gained the upper hand by passing through the space gate to nearby destinations.
Then the subsequent Plague Bishop, Silent Bishop, and Devour Bishop were sent to farther locations due to the gate’s increasing instability.
“It’s already not bad.”
Dekan, with a grave expression, slightly nodded.
Then he looked towards the Pope who was gradually landing.
What was originally a deteriorating situation instantly turned into an opportunity.
The isolated bishops would be intercepted and engaged by the eleven eighth-rank warriors outside the arena within the city.
Normally, even combining Ice Snow Princess, Judith, and another eighth-rank warrior would be insufficient to combat an enemy like the Archbishop of Destruction. It would take three against one to achieve parity or superiority.
Even if these eleven eighth-rank warriors, along with numerous seventh-rank participants, were not enough to hold off six bishops.
At most, they could delay them for a while.
And what everyone considered the most hopeless—there were not just those six bishops, but also three hidden bishops.
In total, nine bishops were within the Philowen Capital!
However, Dekan felt there was a chance.
Only Dekan truly knew he was the Bishop of Pain.
The Frenzied Bishop was locked up in jail.
And among the bishops was a mole who would not stand idly by when the Kingdom Union was facing existential peril.
The situation was far from as dire as it appeared!
The arena became a four-against-one battle.
If they could defeat the Pope before the other bishops reached the arena, it would be their victory!
…
The Pope merely looked at his authority in silence.
Apparently, he had communicated with the bishops instantly.
And had confirmed their present locations.
“Excellent.”
Despite his plan being disrupted, the Pope showed no signs of anger.
Regardless of whether the attacks from the Empire’s Sword Saint and the Holy Knight Commander reaching him, the Pope remained motionless.
An invisible barrier absorbed all their assaults, which were then scattered by the Pope’s chaotic and swirling force like black flames, throwing them back violently, leaving both heavily injured.
Despite receiving magical enhancements from Shien and greatly improved attributes, they were still far from being able to match the Pope’s combat strength.
Similarly, Shien’s magic and Dekan’s summons seemed ineffective against the Pope.
The reason for all this—this magical barrier.
【Chaos Guardian】
【Category: Magic Card】
【Rank: Orange Epic】
【Class: 9】
【Passive Effect: Maintain magical shield, reducing 90% of damage and control effects while the shield exists. Each activation consumes a great amount of mana.】
【Note: Master of Eternal Powers】
The Pope had animosity towards Dekan but not much hatred.
There was a cold composure that refrained from angering one so inferior to him.
Trying to achieve a mere 0.1-second taunt on the Pope was far beyond reach.
The situation of seven against four, now downgraded to one against four, caused the Pope, despite having an overwhelming advantage, to become more cautious with the potential chain reaction of cooperation from his foes.
The special combination of protection and mutual preservation between Dekan and Shien even made the Pope wary.
But it seemed the Pope had no intention of peaceful resolution until other bishops arrived.
“You two, whatever plans you have or secrets you know, today ends here.”
Lightly, a sigh emerged from the Pope’s mouth.
That sigh seemed reflective, mocking, and perhaps carried an unremovable streak of killing intent.
As the Pope’s attention focused on Dekan, he extended his left hand lightly. The pale index finger tip shimmered as a magic card swirled faintly, soon spreading a thin black thread of light that enveloped them all within a black sphere.
【Judgment of Living Things】
【Category: Magic Card】
【Rank: Orange Epic】
【Class: 9】
【Effect: Continuously consumes mana to imprison enemies with lower magical strength within a smaller shield. No movement is allowed while maintaining the spell, and additional mana consumption causes the imprisoned enemy’s life-force to diminish over time. A cooldown period of 24 hours.】
【Note: Mastery over life and death】
That seemingly fragile strand of black light held unspeakable power, making even eighth-tier figures like Adair and Aljeer dare not touch it, desperately attempting to use healing magic on themselves.
It gave no sensation of pain.
But it stripped away life force like natural law!
The Pope’s focus was mainly on Dekan and Shien, while Shien tried tirelessly to counter with healing magic.
The Pope showed no particular interest in the other two eighth-tier figures, indicating their lives were more or less inconsequential to him.
The Pope’s objective was clear.
After eliminating Shien and Dekan, he would seize the energy from the Filowen Capital. Before reinforcements from other kingdoms arrived, the Pope would then leave using the space-jump gate!
Observably, after the Pope’s forced use, more cracks have appeared on the space-jump gate in the sky, likely already in an overloaded state.
Further use would undoubtedly cause damage.
But since the Rebirth Church had the capability to create it, it could certainly be repaired and used again in the future.
By then, without Shien’s intelligence reconnaissance, the Rebirth Church would again use this space-jump gate to completely crush the Union of Kingdoms!
To some extent, if Dekan lost today, the Kingdom Union would be finished.
No one in the arena said anything, and all four were deadlocked.
Except for the Empire Sword Saint and the Holy Knight Commander who could barely self-preserve, Shien stood protectively behind Dekan. She had been casting a protection spell on Dekan from the start, constructing a silvery chain that connected the two, akin to a starry celestial link.
【Star Link】
【Category: Magic Card】
【Rank: Orange Epic】
【Class: 9】
【Effect: After cast on target, shares perception and life-force. If exceeded a certain distance, the link is broken. The higher attribute side adds a 10% correction to the lower attribute side.】
【Note: You’re so weak, why should I?】
As long as this spell persisted, if she didn’t die, neither would Dekan.
After gaining a 10% increase in four attributes from the ninth-ranked Shien, Dekan was no longer as fragile.
Even so, the Pope was still cautious when dealing with Dekan, and even hesitant against Shien when making moves due to the feedback of pain that would reach Dekan.
This card was usually used by Shien to connect with opponents, enabling a blood exchange to save her life, limit the Pope’s attack, and even steal his excess attributes. But under the current circumstances, Shien needed to ensure Dekan’s safety first, even at the expense of her own attributes.
Because Dekan’s pain feedback was the thing the Pope could not handle.
The unique power of the bloodline and the creativity of magic could be called the miracles of this world.
And these miracles were precisely what could threaten the nearly invincible Pope.
If Dekan’s pain feedback could immobilize the Pope for a moment, Shien could activate her prepared countermeasures.
But the Pope currently showed no sign of vulnerability, she couldn’t begin her plan—
to drag the Pope into her home field to battle!
Attempting hastily, given the Pope’s high resistance to control effects, it was likely that Shien would fail midway before successfully immobilizing the Pope.
Only a moment of control or disruption of the Pope was all she needed.
Then she could ensure a perfect connection with her control mechanism.
Dekan naturally understood what Shien was trying to do.
But the Pope was particularly cautious about Dekan from the start.
Not giving him any opportunities to provoke.
The Pope’s mental and magical power was beyond human reach.
With his exceedingly high mental power, came a massive mana limit and excellent resistance to abnormal states. Practically no control effects could impact the Pope.
Even though the Pope had already drained quite a bit of mana through the space-jump gate, he would never be possible to drain this mana monster dry.
As for attack, with 90% damage reduction, let alone injuring the Pope, even breaking his shield was utterly impossible.
The Pope chose a tactic to suppress them completely, waiting until other non-agent bishops came to their aid. By then, these four would be effortlessly exterminated!
Unless they could give the Pope an overwhelming control intensity beyond normal!
Even from a distance, the Pope stood tall in a way that his mere presence carried indescribable force.
Not just Dekan, even Shien looked increasingly grave.
Because they began to hear the sounds of distant battles.
Apparently, some bishops weren’t far from the arena.
“The Bishop of Pain, you have surprised me immensely. Perhaps I should have come after you sooner.”
The Pope’s stern face seemed to smile, carrying a dignity that was almost sacred.
Even though the Pope wasn’t sure if Dekan and Shien had other turning strategies.
He appeared somewhat concerned.
If multiple bishops appeared simultaneously, the Pope wouldn’t worry that any mole would dare to create chaos.
But if the next bishop to arrive happened to be the mole the Pope was searching for, a sure win might turn into a complete reversal in an instant.
The Pope didn’t need to take risks under such great advantage.
He did indeed come up with a rather clever idea to end everything before the bishops arrived …
That is to make Dekan’s and Shien’s trust relationship fall apart!
“I’ve said it before, I am not the Bishop of Pain.”
Dekan sneered coldly.
The Pope’s sowing of discord was laughable.
“Ah?”
The Pope just picked up his authority.
Upon doing something silently, the next moment, the seal started to shimmer brilliantly!
It seemed like it resonated with the Bishop’s Certificate.
A translucent mark seemed to faintly appear on Dekan’s body.
This was Dekan’s mark as the Bishop of Pain.
Just when Dekan began to feel uneasy.
The hidden ‘Bishop of Pain’s Certificate’ within Dekan’s soul also started to glow, gradually becoming visible and uncontrollable!
Dekan immediately looked to Shien.
To see the moment of doubt flash in her eyes.
“How does it feel being played by the Bishop of Pain? You stupid fools.”
The Pope’s voice echoed throughout the arena, as if it wasn’t targeted only at the four people present, but to declare Dekan’s true identity to all the kingdoms!
The Empire Sword Saint immediately looked at Dekan with vigilance, emitting strong hostility against him.
The Holy Knight Commander, on the other hand, was filled with disbelief, uncertain about how to treat Dekan momentarily.
The Pope was very satisfied with their reaction.
The citizens of the kingdom who watched this live broadcast likely displayed even more interesting expressions.
But the Pope’s true concern was for Shien’s attitude.
If Shien wavered at this moment, everything would be over.
…
“How could this be? Is Dekan really the Bishop of Pain?”
“It probably is the Pope’s illusion magic, right?”
“There seems to be a corresponding seal on Dekan too, that’s a genuine Bishop’s Certificate?!”
“Could it be I’ve been living with a Bishop at the same academy every day?!”
Hewenlit Academy’s observation hall had turned into complete chaos at this moment.
Everyone
had merely regarded Dekan’s title as Bishop of Pain as a joke.
How could a student possibly be a real Bishop of the Rebirth Church?!
But at that moment, it seemed the Pope’s on-the-spot confirmation had solidified the authenticity of everything!
Dekan was indeed the last Bishop of the Rebirth Church, undoubtedly the Bishop of Pain!
“No… It’s impossible…”
Trecia covered her cheeks, full of fear.
Could it be that the seemingly harmless young man she brought back from the remote frontier town a year ago was a disaster-level Cardinal Bishop of the Rebirth Church?
Trecia shook her head violently.
Despite her ongoing feeling of growing mysteriousness about Dekan as she came to understand him better,
Every moment of interacting with Dekan gradually confirmed to her that Dekan’s actions resembled those of a demon.
But she absolutely refused to believe Dekan was the Bishop of Pain!
He was someone with a clear line on what’s right, someone whose goodness and evil are clearly defined!
“Milady Shien… please believe in Dekan…”
Trecia could only grit her teeth and pray for her friend.
In a corner of the observation hall, a disheveled student stared blankly at the broadcast screen, as if lost his soul.
“Could it be that I lost to… a Cardinal Bishop?”
The young lord Flata, who challenged Dekan during his first semester at the academy, now suddenly realized that his greatest achievement in life might have been surviving against the Bishop of Pain…
The nightmare that had been unforgettable throughout his life now seemed like a badge of true manhood.
…
In the magical city of Tristin.
Lord Rampard, viscount of the city, leaned back against the chair as if he had lost all his strength.
If Dekan was the Bishop of Pain…
Was the grand victory when Dekan saved this city, saved the Ice Snow Princess, and defeated Archbishop Evans originally just a power-struggle among Bishops?
He was starting to feel confused about what was real and what was false.
Even if Rampard knew Dekan was a person who could seamlessly act,
He still firmly supported Dekan in the face of all this.
But what about this iron-clad evidence?
What about Shien?
“Had you been a liar, I would have wished this wasn’t all true… But if you are not a liar, I would only wish you could fool everyone successfully…”
Rampard was momentarily unclear who he was worrying more about—himself or Dekan!
…
And at this moment, in the Randir Kingdom, the people saved by the Beautiful Soul team from Fahim’s clutches could only feel overwhelming despair.
They originally believed without a doubt,
that once again, Dekan would reverse the situation and help the Kingdom Union through the most difficult crisis.
However,
If at this time it was told to them that the one who would save the world, Dekan, was actually an insider.
A true embodiment of sin.
A deceiving fraud!
That would be the ultimate despair.
Even the battle where Tristin City defeated Archbishop Evans,
Or the fight where the Randir Capital overcame Bishop Fahim,
were merely stages set up for the birth of a hero!
A premonition of an impending catastrophe looming over everyone’s heads, threatening to destroy the Kingdom Union!
But in the Filowen Arena,
when the eyes of the world were fixed on Shien,
she grit her silver teeth.
After a brief hesitation,
Shouted loudly,
“Dekan is the Union’s highest spy—code name ‘Deathbird’! Only taking orders from me. Agamemnon, stop attempting to sway the kingdom citizens!”
Upon hearing Shien’s words,
The Empire Sword Saint subtly clicked his tongue, while the Holy Knight Commander relaxed.
The Pope frowned deeply.
This diviner was indeed troublesome.
…
Actually,
Shien couldn’t figure out Dekan’s true inner workings, either. Many things were merely based on her conjectures and deductions.
Even though she personally trusted Dekan.
She bore the lives of hundreds of millions of people in the Kingdom Union.
So she had always kept some distance from the enigmatic Dekan.
But at this moment, she knew what was the right judgment she had to make!
Not just for the others present.
Even Dekan was somewhat stunned when looking at Shien.
Shien’s words had completely alleviated the dangerous situation he had previously sown, even giving him an official designation.
And with this single phrase,
Dekan felt all his accumulated negative feelings toward Shien were turned around.
Even though this troublemaker diviner had just been acting.
She had almost scared him.
She actually wasn’t at all surprised to learn Dekan was the Bishop of Pain!
The earlier hints made by Shien about the Lord of Misfortunes also were just a mix of three parts magic, three parts deduction, and four parts jest based on intelligence gathered through her spy network and unique spells.
But Shien was absolutely certain about Dekan’s identity as the Bishop of Pain!
Because her true spy ‘Unicorn’ must have already handed over the intelligence of ‘Dekan attending the bishop’s meeting’ to her!
But Shien’s brilliant acting in that split-second had meaning.
Because the Pope’s attempts to sow discord had inadvertently confirmed a point—
The Pope had no clue that there was a mole of the Union’s highest-level spy ‘Unicorn’ within the Rebirth Church bishops!
“Young Pope, today’s the moment to pull the net.”
Dekan also went along with the flow, snapping his fingers and pointing at the Pope with a smirk.
The Pope furrowed his brows.
It wasn’t because of anything else.
Neither Dekan and Shien’s early preparations to counter space magic, nor the 120 times pain attack, nor their improvisation in weaving the falsehood had really enraged the Pope.
Because everything was still within his control.
Rather, it was the fact that Dekan had addressed him as ‘Young Pope’ three times.
