Gun of Ashes

The pitch-black entity suppressed the blazing white flames, and the demons retreated in fear, lurking at a distance, watching the battle like wolves.

The high temperature couldn’t shake it in the slightest. The deadly black sword was so conspicuous in the flaming white Purifying Flame, completely piercing through Ed.

”So... were you just toying with me before?”

This was the power to reverse the battle, with Lorenzo’s Secret Blood Awakening, Ed was utterly powerless.

”No, I just didn’t think it was necessary, because the degree of Secret Blood Awakening would be too high and the Evangelical Church would find out. As you said, the Thirteenth Commandment has always been in effect, and the Holy Hall Knight Order would never stop until all the Secret Blood has been reclaimed.”

Lorenzo just found it to be a hassle. He had hidden a lot in Old Dunling, and for six years, no one had discovered him. In fact, no one even qualified to make him awaken the Secret Blood to such an extent.

The Demon Hunting Order had been destroyed, but the Evangelical Church still existed. They marshaled armed forces under the name of the Holy Hall Knight Order in the name of faith, and all believers would become their hounds. The Secret Blood was a precious treasure, and the Evangelical Church would not allow it to be lost outside.

”So what does this count as? Have I finally made you take me seriously?”

Ed gripped that sharp black sword tightly, and the rising temperature tried to melt it.

Lorenzo’s face was completely hidden beneath the face armor, with only that blazing fire pouring out from the gap, leaving a white trail with each small flicker.

”It’s not like that, there’s just something more worthwhile waiting for me to do, so I don’t have time to bicker with you here.”

He reversed his grip on the black sword and drew it again, the burning blood splattering. In the next moment, Ed also raised that speckled Nail Sword, swinging down fiercely with flames.

The metallic crash sent chaotic sparks flying.

Ed was like a burning beast, the blade frantically hacking. On that burning exterior, more metal began to precipitate, protruding like spikes. The blazing white and pitch black clashed, then staggered into the burgeoning flesh.

The sharp warning sound filled his ears, a cold neutral voice, like that of a machine.

It was the Silver Binding Bolt, that damned thing screaming in his ear. It was technology from the Order, and Demon Hunters were those hunting hounds, but every hound needed its collar.

Ed had already exceeded the critical value. The Secret Blood was frantically proliferating inside him, continually spreading, filling his body with power and ominousness.

He repeatedly slashed, and Ed even saw Lorenzo’s state clearly. There was nothing left in his mind but to hack and cut. Every metallic crash delighted him. He struck Lorenzo, and if this continued, no matter how tough the armor was, it would break under his onslaught.

He was too happy, not just because Lorenzo finally displayed power, but more for the source of this power. It was an Authority Ed had never seen before. Maybe this thing related to the Night of the Holy Arrival? He was getting closer to that nightmarish answer, getting closer...

A sudden pain interrupted Ed’s frenzy. The swinging blade felt like a jammed machine, stuck mid-air, unable to move.

”So... what does this count as?”

He looked at the Demon Hunter before him. The pitch-black armor not only covered him but continued to expand outward, like branches growing wildly, hanging down from the main body, then merging into the burgeoning flesh, so the pitch-black thorns whipped up from the ground under Lorenzo, fiercely beating Ed, leaving large bloody marks on his chest.

Under the heavy sword strike, the face armor slightly broke, revealing a gray-blue eye, devoid of emotion, underneath.

Lorenzo’s counterattack began. It was like a simple turn-based game, until one couldn’t hold on anymore. The thorns snapped up, resembling spears piercing through the flames.

Ed gripped the sword tightly, swinging fiercely against the oncoming Lorenzo, the flash and clamor stirring the air into waves.

The burning figure charged a distance before slowly stopping, without the will to attack again, standing alone in place, head hanging low.

That blade had long fought with Ed, and without the Order’s support, this mass-produced Nail Sword was Ed’s only connection to the past, witnessing all of Ed in these crazy six years.

But now, full of cracks, it finally broke today. Ed had actually realized this long ago: the blade was a consumable. No matter how he maintained it, there would be a day it would break, just like the Demon Hunters.

Slowly turning his head, holding the broken blade, his chest bore dozens of small wounds. It was as if Lorenzo had swung the sword dozens of times at the moment of engagement. That was an extraordinary speed, but with Lorenzo’s power, it was clearly unfeasible.

It was that pitch-black sword.

The black sword in his hand hung low, wrapped with sharp thorns, like a viper slithering over a stone pillar. It was this that slashed Ed at that moment of engagement.

”Stop, Ed, you can’t win against me, and if you let the Secret Blood keep increasing, you’ll trigger the destruction of the Silver Binding Bolt.”

A heavy voice came from beneath the pitch-black armor. The iron armor seemed to wrap around a blazing white star, and faint flames surged from the gap where the iron armor met, like a breath, swelling and fading.

”No... it’s not over yet.”

Ed gripped the broken blade tightly, ignoring the frenzied warnings in his mind, with more silvery metal precipitating from his body. Under the Purifying Flame’s heat, it seemed like iron cast in a furnace. It flowed down his arm, connected to the broken blade, and solidified into a new sword atop the break.

[Warning, Secret Blood Awakening 67%, exceeded critical value.]

[Silver Binding Bolt destruction 13%]

[According to the Sword Scabbard Treaty, you have ninety seconds to act. After ninety seconds, please disarm all weapons and wait in place for the Holy Hall Knight Order to reclaim. Any resistant behavior will be deemed as hostile intent.]

The prattling sound persisted endlessly. The toxin known as Holy Silver was spreading inside with the awakening of the Secret Blood. Ed was about to die, but he was also stronger than ever.

Now he didn’t care about anything anymore. He just wanted to find that answer, that answer which shattered every beautiful dream.

Ed so loved his comrades; they should have enjoyed honor and cheers, but instead died in the shadow of history, quietly, remembered by no one.

[Warning! Warning!]

The Purifying Flame flared again, burning fiercer.

The Secret Blood originated from demons, and now the portion of Ed belonging to humans started to decrease. The effect known as erosion was acting on him, followed by a transformation of flesh, until finally, the boiling Purifying Flame burned his flesh and blood together.

[Warning! Warning!]

[Warning! Warning!]

As the last threshold was breached, that damned voice finally disappeared.

The Black Knight watched that burning figure, like a falling meteor. At the last moment before it disappeared, it was also the brightest moment.

”How tragic.”

He whispered softly, diving down with sword and thorns.