The thoughts of the clergy were simple and pure. To them, Xue Dili is now their benefactor.
Placed within the teachings, whether triggering the wrath of the Divine King (volcanic ash) or repelling the Undead Army, he is worthy of being called "Angel" in status.
Even for those who have dedicated their lives to the Church Court, what Xue Dili has done makes him an angel walking in the mortal world!
Now that the angel is being invaded by the undead, they naturally contribute their own Holy Light to help the angel.
This is the most sincere thought of people in this medieval era.
...
Watching this scene, the old undead found himself choking up for reasons unknown.
So similar, truly similar...
Like that brilliant figure he once yearned for!
Indeed, this child has already done his utmost, the disaster of this world has nothing to do with him, and the selfish desires of an old guy like himself have no relation to this child, yet he still chooses to abide by the agreement of that time, even surpassing it.
He has done enough, now, it's left to me, a remnant of the old era!
...
The Undead Army retreated but did not go far, halting about four hundred kilometers from the Imperial Capital.
At this distance, under the control of the Witch Demon King, they could strike the Imperial Capital within a day and night, if not for the volcanic ash that resembles black snowflakes, the undead scourge might've been closer to the capital.
Xue Dili has been in a coma for over ten hours, and the old undead watched as one batch of nuns after another came to care for him, while his own diminishing time counted down.
In forty hours, perhaps he will completely perish.
Time is short, as it is for all of us.
This time, his granddaughter Alola came, the Female Pope simply changed Xue Dili's cooling cloth, then a mass of Holy Light appeared in her hands.
This was also what every clergy member did, using their Holy Light to dispel the undead invasion within Xue Dili's body.
At least this way, the hero's physical state could be stabilized.
"Alola..." This time, the old undead's voice came.
"Grandfather Barak?" The Female Pope gazed at Xue Dili, hearing another voice.
In such a dire condition of Xue Dili, the old undead could not even manifest a holographic projection-like phantom, for it would consume the scarce life force of Xue Dili.
"Yes, let's seriously chat... starting from five days ago when I appeared in another world..." The old undead seemed to yield, speaking slowly of all he had seen.
He talked about everything seen on Blue Star, spoke of Xue Dili's family matters, talked about the training and mutual bickering, the cunning battles of wits between them.
He talked about the Ultraman plot the old undead saw, and considered Da Gu his most important spiritual support...
The old undead spoke very slowly, like an elderly man talking to a young child about his youthful adventures.
Finally, he spoke of all the calculations and setups Xue Dili devised to drive away the undead.
Exerting the last usable strength to compress the volcanic ash from Holy Mountain, thus striking fear within the undead.
Even this method is not one-time but can be replicated. As long as every time the Undead Army attacks the Imperial Capital, the same way can be copied to drive them away.
Perhaps this way might win some time for the Empire, win a little hope that is few and far between.
The old undead finished speaking, and the Female Pope merely listened quietly, the Holy Light in her hands continually pouring into Xue Dili's body, seemingly bottomless abyss.
"So, grandfather you still want me to go to that world, don't you?" Alola asked slowly after listening.
"Yes." The old undead did not hide his intention at all.
"Alola, promise me, go to that world. I know you want to give the Empire's last humans a chance of survival, but you are my final family... Just do it for me, for the Balak Family..."
"Alola, as long as you go to the other world, then grandfather will remain in the Imperial Capital, will fight to the death against the Witch Demon King, keeping it blocked off from this last piece of land." The tone of the old undead was a mix of pleading and threatening.
"Also, do it for this child. He is willing to go to such lengths for the Empire that has nothing to do with him and for us, allowing you to go is both for him to care for you and to provide a final haven for this child!"
The old undead understood that his granddaughter was like him in youth, immune to pressure. Forced coercion would yield adverse effects, so he chose sacrifice by remaining instead.
This was not enough, further using moral coercion and matters concerning Xue Dili, pressuring Alola with faith and teachings to leave this cesspool of a world.
If the old undead were to threaten and pressure the Female Pope as before, Alola would certainly disagree.
But the old undead first used his staying in the Empire as a bargaining chip, then used Xue Dili's physical condition for the final psychological blow to her defenses.
Alola, who had cared the most for Xue Dili that day, already knew the severity of Xue Dili's condition.
The power of the undead had infiltrated almost every organ, without the suppression of Holy Light, it would lead directly to irreversible undead transformation.
If he were sent home like this, it would be tantamount to killing him—for within five years Xue Dili would become entirely undead, possibly inciting an undead scourge in another world.
Endless guilt and gratitude constantly tormented this Pope. If the hero who sacrificed himself to save the Imperial Capital ended up like this, unsheathing a sword for her would bring peace of mind.
Moreover, for the current Church Court, even all people in the Imperial Capital, Xue Dili was like a true angel descending, their gratitude toward this otherworld hero would never be repaid.
"Alola, you too don't want to see a hero who saved the world meet a tragic end under the invasion of undead strength, do you?"
The old undead didn't know where he learned this line, but it became the final sprint to break through the Female Pope's psychological defense.
She silently closed her eyes and said, "Grandfather, let us make a contract then..."
"I will dedicate to protecting this otherworld hero till the end of his life." The Female Pope solemnly pledged, making an oath before her only family.
Because she also knew that with her meager skill staying behind to resist the Witch Demon King was courting death, perhaps just adding one more female skeleton to the future Undead Army.
And Undead Barak truly has the chance to kill the Witch Demon King, although the chance is slim.
"But at the same time, grandfather, you need to try hard to protect those remaining, even if only one person remains..."
The Female Pope's eyes were filled with resolve.
She used herself becoming a deserter to exchange for a truly Legendary Level strongman, plotting a hope for the Empire's last humans.
A hope that humanity can vanquish the undead scourge, living once again under the Blue Star.