Assassin's Creed: Renaissance

Chapter 58

One morning in August 1503, at the request of his uncle, Ezio went to his study in the Castle of Monteriggioni to meet with other members of the Assassin Order.He was forty-four and his temples were beginning to grey, but his beard was still a deep chestnut.Those who came to the study were Paola, Machiavelli, and the fox, and Theodora, Antonio, and Bartolomeo.

"The time has come, Ezio," Mario said solemnly, "we have the Apple of Eden, where all the pages of the lost ancient books have been collected. Let us finish what your father, my brother, started many years ago Well... maybe we can finally figure out the meaning of the prophecy hidden in the ancient book, and completely dismantle the powerful power of the Knights Templar."

"Then, Uncle, we shall begin by finding the tomb. These ancient pages you have gathered should help us find it."

Mario turned the bookcase away, revealing the wall where the pages of the ancient book had been kept—now there was a page in each notch.On a nearby pedestal sits an Apple of Eden.

"This is how the pages are connected," they said, looking at the intricate patterns made up of the pages, while Mario continued to explain, "It seems to be a map of the world, except that the world is bigger than we know it, and the west and south Continents are unknown to us. But I believe they exist."

"There's something else," said Machiavelli, "on the left you should see the outline of a scepter, which, in fact, should be the Pope's sceptre. On the right there is clearly an image of an apple. On these pages In the middle of it, we can see a dozen or so small dots, but we don't yet understand the shape they make up."

As he spoke, the Apple of Eden lit up by itself, and finally shone with a dazzling light, illuminating the pages of those ancient books, as if to embrace them.Then it reverted to its dim and inconspicuous appearance.

"Why is it glowing at this hour?" Ezio asked.He really wished Leonardo could have been there to explain, or at least give inferences.Ezio tried to recall the extraordinary qualities of what his friends called the "bizarre contraption", but he had no idea what the Apple of Eden was - it looked both mechanical and living.But instinct told him he could trust it.

"Another mystery to be solved," said the fox.

"How could this map exist?" Paula asked. "Undiscovered continents...!"

"Continents waiting to be rediscovered, perhaps," Ezio suggested, but his tone was also full of awe.

"How is that possible?" said Theodora.

Machiavelli replied: "Perhaps the answer lies in that tomb."

"Can we find its place?" said the always practical Antonio.

"Let's see..." Ezio surveyed the entire tome, "if we connect the dots to a line..." he did, "Look, the lines meet at the same point!" He took a few steps back "No! That's impossible! The tomb! It looks like the tomb is in Rome!" He glanced at the people around him, and they saw what he was thinking.

"This explains why Rodrigo is so eager to become pope," Mario said. "He has ruled the Vatican for 11 years and still lacks the means to discover its darkest secrets, but he obviously knows that the tomb is in Rome."

"Of course!" said Machiavelli, "in a sense he is admirable. Not only did he succeed in finding the tomb, but when he became Pope he also had the scepter!"

"Scepter?" asked Theodora.

Mario opened his mouth: "The ancient books always mention those two 'Pieces of Eden', saying that they are two keys. The first key—" He turned to look at it, "—is the Apple of Eden. "

"The other key is the Pope's Staff!" Ezio came to his senses, "The Pope's Staff is the second 'Piece of Eden'!"

"Exactly," said Machiavelli.

"God, you're right!" cried Uncle Mario.His face immediately became serious. "For years -- decades -- we've been looking for these answers."

"Now we have the answer," Paula added.

"But the 'Spanish' is probably the same," Antonio interjected. "We don't know if there are any other copies of the ancient books—maybe even if the ancient books he collected are incomplete, they can provide him with enough information..." He Did not go on. "If he has discovered something, if he has found a way to enter the tomb..." He lowered his voice, "Compared with the contents inside, the Apple of Eden is nothing at all."

"Two keys," Mario reminded them, "Two keys are needed to open the tomb."

"But we can't take any chances," Ezio said eagerly, "I must go to Rome now and find the tomb!" There was no objection.Ezio's gaze flicked over everyone's faces. "what about you?"

Bartolomeo, who had been silent all this time, spoke now, but he was as outspoken as ever. "I will do my best—to cause trouble and commotion in that Eternal City—to attract their attention so that you can successfully complete your mission."

"We will help you out of unnecessary troubles as best we can, my friend," said Machiavelli.

"Tell me when you're ready, my nephew, and we'll go with you," said Mario. "All for one, and one for all!"

"Thank you, my friends," Ezio said, "I know you will be there to help me in my time of need. But please let me do this last mission alone - a lone fish can slip through a net, A school of fish often can't get away. And the Templars are probably on the lookout for us."

They made preparations quickly.Not long into the second half of the month, Ezio took a boat along the Tiber River to the pier near Castel Sant'Angelo in Rome, carrying the precious Apple of Eden.He had been cautious all the way, but whether it was witchcraft or the efforts of Rodrigo's pervasive spies, his arrival had attracted the attention of the enemy, and a whole company of Borgia soldiers was waiting for him at the gates of the docks.They were blocked between Ezio and the Via Borgo, the half-mile-long secret passage that connects the castle to the Vatican, but time was running out, and Rodrigo must have known he was coming, Ezi Al knew his only option was to deliver a swift and precise attack.Like a lynx, he jumped onto an ox cart full of barrels, and jumped from the tallest barrel in the cart to the gantry above.The guards gaped as the assassin leaped from the gantries, his cloak fluttering behind him.He flicked his wrist blade, killed the sergeant on horseback, and took his mount.He moved so fast the rest of the soldiers didn't even have time to draw their swords.Without looking back, Ezio headed straight for the secret passage, leaving the Borgia soldiers far behind.

Upon reaching his destination, Ezio found that the entrance to the passage was too narrow and low for riders to pass through, so he dismounted and began to walk.With a quick flick of his wrist blade and dagger, the two men guarding the entrance were dealt with.Despite his age, Ezio's training continued unabated, and his powers reached the peak - he is now the leader of the Assassin Order, the "Assassins Supreme".

Behind the entrance gate is a long and narrow courtyard, and on the other side is another gate.It appeared to be unguarded, but as he approached the lever that seemed to open the gate, a voice from the parapet above shouted, "Stop the intruders!" The door was also shut hard.He's trapped in it!

He pushed hard on the lever that controlled the second gate as the archers above readied their shots.Just as he rushed out of the door, the arrow hit the ground behind him with a clicking sound.

He finally stepped into the Vatican.He moved like a cat through the labyrinth of corridors, blending into the shadows as watchful guards passed by, for if he met the enemy he would be giving away his position.Finally, he came to the huge and empty Sistine Chapel.

Completed 20 years ago, the masterpiece built by Basio Pontelli for the Order's erstwhile enemy Sixtus IV towered above and around his head, its many burning candles barely piercing the gloom.Ezio could vaguely make out paintings by Ghirlandaio, Botticelli, Perugino, and Rosselli on the surrounding walls, but no decoration could be seen on the vast ceiling.

He had come in through the stained-glass window that was being repaired, and was crouching on the inner ledge overlooking the church.Below, Alexander VI, in his golden gown, presides at Mass.

Ezio waited until the ceremony came to a close, and the congregation left the church, leaving only the Pope, his cardinals, and the accompanying priests. Did the "Spanish" know that Ezio had arrived?Is he ready to confront him?Ezio didn't know it, but he could see that now was the perfect opportunity to rid the world of one of the most vicious Templars.He made up his mind and jumped away from the window sill.Before the attendants and the pope had time to react or call for help, his wrist blade pierced deeply into Alexander's bloated body.The Pope fell soundlessly at Ezio's feet and did not move.

Ezio stood in front of him, breathing heavily. "I thought... I thought I'd let go. I thought I'd let go of my vengeance. But I can't. I'm just a human. I've waited too long and lost so much . . . and you are the scourge of the world, and I must kill you for the good of all—rest in peace, poor fellow."

He turned to leave, but then something strange happened.The pope's hand grasped the scepter.It immediately emitted a dazzling white light, which made the whole church seem to spin.The pope's cold blue eyes snapped open.

"I'm not ready to rest, you pathetic villain," said Rodrigo.Then there was another flash of light, and the accompanying priests and cardinals, together with the congregation who had not yet left the church, all fell to the ground, screaming loudly, and at this time, a small and weird translucent beam of light coiled like smoke Then, pouring out of their bodies, into the glowing scepter held tightly by the Pope - who was already on his feet.

Ezio charged at him, and the Spaniard shouted, "Don't even think about it, Assassin!" and swung the mace at him.It made an eerie crackling sound - like lightning - and Ezio found himself flung across the church, onto the groaning and twitching priests and faithful.Rodrigo Borgia tapped the scepter lightly on the ground beside the altar, and more smoky energy left their limp bodies and poured into the scepter—and his body.

Ezio scrambled to his feet and faced his archenemy once more.

"You are such a demon!" Rodrigo exclaimed, "How can you resist its power?" Then he looked down and saw the bright light from the waist bag beside Ezio - the Apple of Eden inside.

"I understand!" Rodrigo's eyes brightened. "You have the apple! It saves me a lot of trouble. Give it to me!"

"To hell with you!"

Rodrigo laughed. "Brutal! And just as unyielding as ever! Just like your father. Be merry, my boy, for you'll see him again soon!"

He swung the staff again, and the hook from it hit the scar on the back of Ezio's hand.Ezio trembled all over, he staggered back, but did not fall.

"You'll give me the apple," growled Rodrigo, approaching.

Ezio thought quickly.He knew what the Apple of Eden was capable of, and he must now risk his life to use it. "As you wish," he replied.He took out the Apple of Eden from his pocket and held it high.It shone so brightly that the entire cathedral was as bright as day, and when there was only dim candlelight left around, Rodrigo saw eight Ezios lined up in front of him.

Rodrigo didn't panic. "It can make a copy of you!" he said. "It's amazing. It's hard to tell which is your real body and which is just an illusion-but at best, it can only cause me trouble .If you thought such a cheap trick could save your life, you'd be wrong!"

Rodrigo swung his scepter and smashed at those replicas. Whenever he hit one of them, it would turn into a puff of green smoke and disappear.The duplicate Ezio dodged and feinted at Rodrigo, who was beginning to look worried, but they couldn't hurt the Spaniard, only distracted him.Only the real Ezio was capable of stabbing his opponent - but his strikes were no match for the mace's power, nor could he come close to the malevolent pope.But Ezio soon discovered that the struggle was wearing down Rodrigo's strength.When the seven phantoms disappeared, the Pope was exhausted and out of breath.Rodrigo drives his movements with madness, but apart from the power instilled in him by the scepter, Rodrigo is just a fat old man at 72 years old, suffering from syphilis.Ezio put the Apple back in his fanny pack.

After wrestling with the apparition, the pope fell to his knees.Ezio was almost as out of breath as he was, since the phantoms drained his energy while they were active.He stood in front of Rodrigo, who raised his head and grasped the scepter. "Don't you try to take it away from me," he said.

"It's over, Rodrigo. Put down the scepter, and I will let you die without pain."

"What a generosity," Rodrigo sneered. "If you were to change places, would you be willing to just give up?"

Gathering all his strength, the pope stood up suddenly, and at the same time, he smashed the end of the scepter heavily on the ground.In the dimness in the distance, the priests and believers groaned again, and the new energy poured out from the staff, hitting Ezio like a heavy hammer, causing his whole body to fly.

"How about this trick?" The pope smiled evilly.He walked over to Ezio, who was lying on the ground, panting.Ezio removed the Apple of Eden, but it was too late, as Rodrigo put his boot on his hand, and the Apple rolled aside.Borgia bent down and picked it up.

"Finally!" he said with a smile, "Now...it's time to deal with you!"

He held up the Apple of Eden, which shone with a terrifying light.Ezio's body seemed frozen, unable to move an inch.The pope bent down angrily, but his expression calmed down when he saw that his opponent was completely helpless.He pulled out a dagger from his robe, then looked at his prostrate enemy, and calmly stabbed the dagger into his side, with a mixture of contempt and pity on his face.

But the pain of the wound seems to have weakened the Apple of Eden's power.Ezio, prone on the ground, watched through the haze of pain as Rodrigo swaggered around to face Botticelli's fresco, The Temptation of Jesus Christ.He approached the mural and raised the scepter.Huge energy surged out in an arc, filling the mural, and a part of it began to rotate, revealing a secret door behind.Rodrigo turned his head and gave his defeated foe one last smug look before going through the door.Ezio watched helplessly as the door closed behind the Pope, and had barely memorized the location of the secret door before he lost consciousness.

After an unknown amount of time, he woke up again.But the candles were nearly burned out, and the priest and the faithful disappeared.He found that although he was lying in a pool of his own blood, the wound Rodrigo had made on his side had not touched any vital organs.He stood up unsteadily, leaning against the wall, and then took regular deep breaths until his mind cleared.He tore off a piece of shirt material to staunch the bleeding.He prepared his ancient weapons—the double-bladed dagger on his left forearm, and the poisonous blade on his right arm—and approached Botticelli's fresco.

(End of this chapter)