Chapter 46: Phantom Angels! First Glimpse of the Pope of Light!
“So that’s how it is…”
Bai Xuan nodded as understanding settled in, finally piecing together the tangled web of events.
He turned to Serene. “Don’t worry. We’ll save this world. We’ll set everything right.”
“Mhm.” Serene nodded softly, her luminous eyes shining with hope and trust as she gazed at him.
As they spoke, they arrived at their mission’s destination—just outside the Sacred Pool of Light.
A sealed temple gate loomed before them, ancient and imposing, as if awaiting the chosen of fate.
“This is the place?” Bai Xuan asked, studying the hallowed doors. Two lifelike angels were carved into the wood, standing sentinel on either side.
“This is the Sacred Pool,” Serene explained. “It’s where generations of Holy See Saintesses have come to bathe and purify themselves. Legend says it’s the holiest ground for communing with the Goddess of Light.”
“Saintesses, huh?” Bai Xuan glanced at Serene, curiosity flickering in his eyes. “When you were in the Holy See, did you ever have a chance to become a Saintess?”
Serene shook her head gently. “No. The four Saintesses are always chosen from the most outstanding women in the Kingdom of Elandia. And among them, only the best is eligible to become the next Pope.”
“So the Pope can only be a woman?” Bai Xuan raised his brows in surprise.
“Yes. Only women can communicate with the Goddess of Light.” Serene’s answer was unwavering.
“I see.” Bai Xuan nodded, gathering his thoughts. “Our mission now is to find a way into the Sacred Pool—to let you complete the baptism.”
“Entering the Sacred Pool…” Serene hesitated, her brow furrowing. “It won’t be easy. Without the Pope’s permission, no one is allowed inside. Trespassers… face the wrath of the angels.”
“But we have to try.”
Before Bai Xuan finished speaking, the Scorpion’s Sting appeared behind him, and the Black Dragon Blade materialized in his hand.
Taking her cue, Serene drew the Sword of No Light at her hip.
“I understand,” she replied.
She stepped up to the temple doors, sword in hand. As her palm touched the ancient wood, a faint golden light blossomed beneath her fingers.
But in the next instant, that golden glow turned crimson, and a chilling, ethereal warning echoed through the hall:
“Unauthorized intruders detected! Eliminate immediately! Eliminate immediately!”
Even as the warning faded, the two angel statues above the doors stirred—and stepped forward.
Both wore featureless white masks, their bodies wreathed in liquid gold, wings fanned wide and impossibly lifelike.
As they emerged, lines of information flashed before Bai Xuan’s eyes:
【Phantom Angel】
【Level: D+】
【Origin: Divine Creation】
【Race: Angel】
【Affection: 0】
【Attributes: Strength B, Agility B, Constitution B, Spirit B】
“Two D+ rank angels?”
Bai Xuan’s frown deepened as he took in their stats.
An instant later, the Phantom Angels launched their assault on Serene.
Twin swords of pure gold shimmered into their hands. With identical stances, they flanked Serene from left and right, moving in perfect unison.
Serene’s blade flashed as she met their onslaught, but under their combined assault she was forced onto the defensive, unable to find an opening to strike back.
Bai Xuan melted into stealth, planning to ambush one from the shadows.
But the moment he moved, a golden sword beam slashed toward him from nowhere.
He dodged on instinct, but when he glanced back, he saw the sword light had gouged a half-meter-deep scar into the stone floor.
“They can sense where I am?”
Bai Xuan’s eyes narrowed. These Phantom Angels weren’t tracking him by sight—they were using some other method to lock onto his position!
Even as he processed this, one of the angels pivoted and charged at him, impossibly fast—faster than any foe he’d ever faced.
He barely had time to react before the golden sword was at his throat.
Scorpion’s Sting whipped up in time to block the blow, buying him a heartbeat to retreat—but with a single strike, the Phantom Angel shattered the weapon into splinters!
【Equipment—Scorpion’s Sting has been damaged!】
Damn!
Bai Xuan’s heart sank. The Phantom Angels’ strength was far beyond what he could handle.
But then he noticed something odd. As he staggered back, the angel abruptly ceased her pursuit and turned away, flying back toward Serene.
“…?”
Confused, Bai Xuan watched as the angels withdrew, remaining within the golden-lit area before the temple gate.
“They only attack targets trying to enter the Sacred Pool…”
A thought clicked into place. He called out, “Serene, fall back for now!”
“Understood.”
Serene nodded and quickly retreated.
The moment she stepped out of the radiant zone, the Phantom Angels halted, returning to their posts outside the temple doors.
“So they’re just performing their programmed duty?”
Bai Xuan studied the motionless angels. They stood there like perfectly calibrated machines, bound to the parameters of their purpose.
He turned to Serene. “Let’s come back when we’re stronger.”
“Mhm.”
Serene nodded in agreement. With her current strength, she could barely withstand a single Phantom Angel—let alone two at once.
Bai Xuan summoned a Teleportation Array, preparing to leave.
But just then, Serene spoke. “Master, before we go… could you come with me somewhere?”
“Of course.”
Bai Xuan nodded.
“Thank you.”
Serene turned and headed off in a new direction. Bai Xuan hurried to catch up.
Before long, Serene led him to a grand palace. This was clearly the main hall of the Holy See—more magnificent and resplendent than anything they’d seen so far, bathed in gold.
As they walked, Bai Xuan passed countless frozen figures—bishops, priests, paladins, nuns… Every one of them trapped in the world-stopping magic, preserved like statues.
Yet none of their faces showed fear—only patience and faith.
Soon, the two reached the central chamber.
The moment they stepped inside, Bai Xuan’s gaze was drawn to a solitary figure.
A woman with hair white as snow sat upon the Solar Throne, head tilted back, golden-red eyes fixed on the ceiling—where a glowing golden orb hung, like a miniature sun.
It was this orb, Bai Xuan realized, that kept the Holy See from being swallowed by endless darkness.
“She must be the one…”
Bai Xuan immediately understood—this was the Pope of Light herself, the woman who had raised Serene.
But seeing her in person, he was caught off guard.
The Pope looked astonishingly young—barely older than Serene herself.
Serene walked swiftly to within five meters of the throne and stopped, standing silently. Her blue eyes never left the Pope’s face, filled with complex, turbulent emotions.
As Bai Xuan waited, he studied the Pope as well.
Even frozen in time, her presence was overwhelming. The golden-red eyes shimmered with an inner radiance, like molten gold.
It felt as if a single glance from her could pierce straight through his soul.
—A blink!
Huh?
Suddenly, Bai Xuan’s heart skipped a beat. He could have sworn he saw the Pope’s eyelids tremble, ever so slightly!
He rubbed his eyes, hardly daring to believe it, and turned to Serene. “Serene… did she just move?”