I Became The Pope, Now What?-Novel

"Y-You… You stopped time?!" Sylvester exclaimed in bewilderment.

It was an ability that he had only heard about before and had never seen it. Moreover, it was even rarer than Light magic, which made it all the more dangerous. In times of danger, this ability allowed no protection against its attack, leaving one vulnerable and defenseless.

Clank!

Sylvester quickly countered Grand Wizard Einarr's sword with his sword, deftly blocking the strike. He then leaped backward, putting some distance between himself and Einarr. This was a necessary precaution as the Grand Wizard had the ability to manipulate time, making it dangerous to be in close proximity to him. By increasing the distance between them, Sylvester could buy himself more time and force Einarr to take longer to close the gap between them.

"Chonky, I will need your help this time," Sylvester spoke with his best friend on the shoulder. "Whenever I will raise my palm towards him, you need to release all the mud that you ate years ago during our battle with the Bloodling."

"Finally! My time to shine!" Miraj proudly and firmly sat on Sylvester's shoulder, facing his head towards the foe.

Meanwhile, Sylvester prepared his mind to battle a man who could stop time. 'Trust the ears more than eyes — Trust the ears more than eyes — Let's see if your lessons will help me, Sir Dolorem.'

"Surrender. I do not wish to sin by slaying a clergyman." Einarr finally spoke. His voice had a single tone, as if the man lacked all emotions.

Sylvester smiled and prepared for another strike. "There is no backing down in Duel Under Faith. Let's just fight."

"Then forgive me." Einarr blurted and disappeared from his spot.

He stopped the time, and in that duration, he moved extremely fast enough to reach Sylvester and hit him.

Stab!

This time, Einarr's sword pierced into Sylvester's shoulder, and right then, time flowed again. When time resumed, Sylvester was thrown to the ground, blood spraying all around him, covering the scorched land with crimson stains.

"Gah!" Sylvester grunted in pain.

But he had no time to waste and quickly kicked the ground to jump back, creating even more distance between them this time. On the way, he promptly sprinkled some healing potion on his open wounds to give himself some first aid.

But the wounds didn't look good as Sylvester realized something. "The sword was poisoned… This is not good."

He spat on the ground and again faced Einarr, waiting for him to strike. This time, he also kept his sword prepared to shoot a Wrath of Heavens. For that, he began to sing a hymn under his breath. But the halo always gave him away.

Woosh!

Once again, Einarr disappeared from his spot, stopping the time.

"Hah! Three seconds?!" Sylvester's roar resounded abruptly. Einarr appeared just a meter away from hitting Sylvester right in the middle of the chest this time.

Clank!

Sylvester blocked the sword attack, but Miraj was also in the game this time. So as Sylvester raised his other palm, a swarm of mud and dirt flew out of nowhere and covered Einarr from head to toe.

Following that, Sylvester once again jumped the same distance, having discovered Einarr's limitations. After all, no matter how strong one gets, one can't become a god and stop time indefinitely. There was a limit that none could cross. It applied to even a Supreme Wizard.

"Come on now," Sylvester shouted, knowing very well that Einarr didn't have the infinite time-stopping ability.

Woosh!

This time, Einarr used his normal abilities. After all, he was also a wizard, and time was not his only element. He kicked the ground with one leg so hard that it shattered the earth in a fifty-meter radius.

As he shot himself toward Sylvester, he also waved his hand and created an Earth Elemental wall behind Sylvester, trying to stop him from moving.

But Sylvester was strong and smart too. The moment Einarr kicked the ground, Sylvester did the same and created an Earth Elemental wall in front of Einarr, hoping to hinder his speed and trajectory.

Boom!

But Einarr was a Grand Wizard, after all. He easily shattered through the wall and continued on his path toward Sylvester. However, since Sylvester's Knight rank was high, too, he burst through the wall behind him and continued to move away.

'Running won't do… I need to find a way to fight him.' Sylvester felt the urgency as he had limited energy, and at the same time, he had to deal with the poison he received from Einarr's blade.

'Does he not have a cool down time? Even using the Future Eye takes a great toll on the body, and cannot be used infinitely. There should be some limitations to time stop, as well. Perhaps I can test him — But to truly end this battle… Where are you, old knight?'

As Sylvester ran and kept his distance, he suddenly began to chant a hymn, preparing for his next move. The hymn he recited was explicitly related to Einarr.

♫O' Son of Solis, awaiting the arrival of light.

Why must you rebel when help is in sight?

You serve the wrong and hope for the right.

Use your might; only that can ease your plight!♫

Woosh!

Sylvester's entire body began to shine, and soon, he was shrouded in it. But that was where the main game began, as he slowed down and waited for Einar to come. The only difference was the other twenty humanized clones of Light that emerged from nowhere.

The clones jumped around and confused Einarr. Who was the real Sylvester, he had no idea. But still, he went closer and swung his sword at one of the light clones. The sword phased through the body like it was water.

"Stop this senseless battle, Einarr! My fight is with the Grand Duke, not you!" Sylvester's voice echoed from all around Einarr.

The light clones kept running randomly around him, some getting stabbed by Einarr. He frantically tried to cut all of them by stopping time too, but to no avail, as the number of clones only kept on increasing with time.

"I do not decide where my sword aims at, Bard. I am a mere servant to the Grand Duke." Einarr spoke in a rather monotone voice.

Sylvester liked where it was going as he got to talk. "I know why you betrayed the King Sorrow at the last moment. I understand your pain and fears. I can solve that and give you what you desire!"

"Empty words are as valuable as dirt in Sorrow Kingdom, Bard."

"Then wait and watch," Sylvester added and decided to start making moves.

Sylvester's clones began to move fast; every now and then, they'd go close to Einarr's body. The clones numbered fifty-eight by then, and it was impossible to keep an eye on even for him.

Woosh!

Sylvester used the mayhem to leave long, deep cuts on Einarr, aiming immediately at the face and neck. Everything happened so fast that before Einarr could reply, Sylvester had left already.

"Aaaargh! This mongrel!"

Boom!

Suddenly, the Grand Duke returned to the battlefield with Sylvester's spear, which he finally took out of the shoulder. He roared and lunged at Sylvester while his body remained burning in flames.

Thud!

But the Grand Duke jumped on the wrong clone and, as a result, fell face-first on the dirty ground.

"Thank you for bringing me my spear." Sylvester's voice echoed in the vicinity, and the spear vanished from the Grand Duke's hold.

Woosh!

Continuing his attack with his clones, Sylvester left little wounds on Einarr, and now the Grand Duke. Both men could do nothing but watch, as no magic helped them. The fire didn't harm the clones. The blades were useless, and the same was the case with water and air.

But Earth elemental was what could disrupt the entire movement, and that was precisely what Einarr tried.

"Not so fast!" Sylvester countered by using the opposite of Einarr's magic and stopping any changes from appearing on the ground.

"You! Stop and fight like a man!" The Grand Duke roared.

Sylvester laughed and stabbed the Grand Duke in the back while moving among his own clones. "You are the one who brought external help in our fight, and somehow my manhood is in question?"

"If this is what you wish, then so be it." The Grand Duke shouted furiously and looked towards his army. "Azor Al Romana! What are you waiting for? Send your damn undead here!"

Sylvester became alert in that instant. "So you are the one behind the plague!"

"W-What? I did not spread any plague, for my own lands are reeling with the disease." Grand Duke clarified, knowing too well that such an accusation could lead to his whole Kingdom's total destruction.

Sylvester moved closer and hit the Grand Duke on his stomach, creating a gaping wound. "So it seems even you don't know, Grand Duke. Your dear resident Dark Wizard, Azor Al Romana, is the one who made it and spread it!"

"Grrr…!"

Sylvester had to change his strategy again as the undead rose in the field. There were too many of them crawling out of the scorched ground. There were skeletons, zombies, and even some golems.

The Grand Duke was panicking the entire time. "No! You are mistaken! Why would he?"

Sylvester shrugged and allowed one of his light clones to go and hug a skeleton. Since it was Holy Light, the creature instantly got burned away after the hug.

"Grr…!"

Even more undead began to rise from the ground at that time. But, instead of attacking Sylvester's clones, they went to fight with the other undead sent by Azor.

Sylvester glanced at his army's side and noticed Bishop Lazark raising his right palm toward the battlefield. His face was frozen like a statue as he nodded toward Sylvester.

"I will take care of this, Lord Bard!" Bishop Lazark announced, sending his own strong undead. The issue of the Dark Wizard Azor was too personal for him, and he wanted closure.

Sylvester, still among his clones, bobbed his head in agreement and turned to look east, where he could notice a faint hint of a horse rider coming in.

Smiling, Sylvester glanced at Einarr. "May the Holy Light Enlighten us! Your wish has been granted."

Einarr also looked in that direction. "Who is that?"

Sylvester finally began to stop and made his clones disappear. Then, he walked closer to Einarr while keeping a halo behind his head.

"What you longed for! The reason you betrayed your king! The reason you remained a slave to this filth of a Duke — Einarr, your daughter is now safe!"

Clank!

Einarr lost the grip on his sword and let it fall. His mind went blank, having forgotten the will to fight.

"Einarr! This is the time! Kill him!" The Grand Duke shouted as Sylvester stood so close to Einarr at that moment.

But Einarr didn't respond and just kept looking at the oncoming figure of Sir Dolorem and the horse.

"Bard… If what you say is the truth — I give you my life."

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