Gun of Ashes

The creature before him was clearly a Demon like Sabo, able to maintain a semblance of sanity under corruption, but only temporarily; their fate was ultimately destined for annihilation in despair.

Yet there were exceptions among them, such as the Demon Hunters.

Overcoming complex obstacles, Lorenzo advanced while firing, bullets ricocheting between the narrow walls, sparks flying.

As the deafening gunshots rang out, the nearby neighborhood fell into chaos, with the cavalry officers forming a perimeter around the alley, the sound of iron whistles, used for alerting and conveying messages, ceaseless, like melancholy flocks of birds swarming here, emitting mournful cries.

The iron whistles and gunshots intertwined, turning into the urgent pounding of Death God on doors and windows. In his field of vision, debris rose incessantly ahead, and the demon, in essence also like a beast, feared thunder and fire. This sudden turmoil unsettled it, causing Lorenzo to sneer coldly at the thought.

It was absurd that a monster spreading fear could also feel fear.

The power of Secret Blood surged, as Lorenzo stepped on an iron trash bin, leaving a deep footprint on it, a testament not just to his strength, but to his immense weight.

Lorenzo had the Silver Binding Bolt implanted in him, a safety mechanism from the Demon Hunting Order to restrain out-of-control Demon Hunters. But because of this implanted steel, a Demon Hunter essentially wore a suit of sturdy Holy Silver Armor inside his body at all times. Thanks to this, Lorenzo, though appearing thin, was drastically overweight due to the metal implants.

They were about to catch that bizarre demon, but the alleyway was coming to an end. With assistance from the Peeping Tom System, Blue Jade had deduced several routes the demon might take based on the mechanical map. Outside the alley, the cavalry officers lined up, holding standard rifles as several feet of fire burst forth.

The efficiency of the Purification Mechanism was on full display at this moment, initiating a small-scale operation within a short time.

The barrage of steel swept across, and the demon still maintained its eerie humanoid form, draped in blood-stained tattered cloth, its face hidden behind a worn-out mask. Due to its ragged attire, it was difficult to discern its features at first glance.

”Stop it!”

Joey, who was right behind Lorenzo, shouted, then raised his rifle. Though just an ordinary man without the powerful strength of a Demon Hunter or the willpower of Knight Commanders to wield the Armor of Original Sin, he was still exceptional among ordinary people.

His gaze crossed over the sights, finally landing on the demon’s figure as he pulled the trigger. In that brief instant, vivid red blood burst from the demon’s body.

The next second, chaotic gunfire erupted, setting off a storm of bullets in the streets, steel clashing, blood splattering everywhere.

Lorenzo couldn’t tell how many bullets had hit the demon. He could only see large swathes of blood pouring down. Yet the demon didn’t stop, its tenacious vitality driving it forward. It fiercely plunged a claw into the body of a warhorse, its sharp talons like blades, creating another blood shower as it neared the interception force.

Two warhorses had their throats slashed in the first moment of contact, collapsing amidst their anguished whinnies. Some cavalry officers attempted to retaliate, while others stood dazed, consumed by the force of fear as they locked eyes with the demon and were invaded by its rampant corruption.

”I’ll take care of it!”

The shotgun fired again, but this time it hit the demon from another side, causing its attack speed to slow down briefly, giving the frightened cavalry officer a chance to retreat—otherwise, he might spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair from being hit by that strike.

”Where’s the reinforcements? That damn thing is slipperier than we thought!”

Joey shouted in the communication channel. The Purification Mechanism rarely encountered such intelligent demons, and when it did, the Peeping Tom System usually had enough time to react. Then, those confronting the demon wouldn’t be ordinary men but a steel tide forged from the Armor of Original Sin.

”Reinforcements? The most capable Demon Hunter in all of Old Dunling is right there with you!”

This was true. Ever since witnessing Lorenzo cleave a carriage in two with a sword, blood flowing outside, Blue Jade had regarded Lorenzo as the pinnacle of combat ability within humanity’s reach.

”But the problem is we can’t catch up with it! If this chaos continues, it’ll spread further. We need to resolve it quickly!”

Joey had witnessed the chase between these two firsthand. Lorenzo was advancing without hesitation, yet still maintained a certain distance from the demon, proving difficult to catch.

Blue Jade looked at the mechanical map, where on the other side a blue line was rapidly approaching the target’s red dot.

”Drive it towards the edge of the city. The rapid response team has boarded the Iron Serpent and is closing in on the target!”

The ”Midcourt Serpent” transportation system spanning the entirety of Old Dunling and even Ingwig had gone online, adjusting all steam tram lines. Mechanical gears meshed with force, shifting tracks under the power of steam.

Red lights turned on while green lights turned off, carving out an unobstructed path in this complex city within minutes. A fully armed team was rapidly nearing the target location. The rumble from the tracks’ end resounded.

Lorenzo and the demon moved one after the other, gunshots occasionally ringing out. The bloody trails guiding their way showed the demon seemed uninjured, refusing to stop.

Joey could no longer keep pace from behind them; even with his exceptional physical strength, he was far too slow to catch up and could only watch as the two figures gradually vanished before his eyes.

It was at this moment that Joey began to envy Lancelot. The mysterious Knight Commander possessed extraordinary willpower, capable of operating unbothered by a demon’s corruption even when using the first-generation Armor of Original Sin, which made him responsible for the rapid response team of the Purification Mechanism, with the unique authority to freely deploy the Armor of Original Sin, a distinction within the Purification Mechanism.

Neither Galahad nor other Knight Commanders could use the Armor of Original Sin without Arthur’s permission and a judgment of the erosion level by the Perpetual Motion Pump, as the weapon was so dangerous, careful steps were essential to prevent its transformation into an even more perilous demon.

But Lancelot was different. He needed no complex procedures; his willpower commanding the Armor of Original Sin received unanimous approval from Arthur and the Perpetual Motion Pump.

”How can it run so fast!”

Always in pursuit, even Lorenzo began to grow exasperated. This demon was exceptionally elusive, refusing to give Lorenzo a chance for confrontation. The iron whistles persisted all around. After witnessing the recent engagement, the cavalry dared not approach the demon, resorting to steering it from afar.

”Wait… ahead is the industrial district!”

A vast array of buildings appeared at the sight’s limit, with gloomy smog completely obscuring the sky, the scent of ashes lingering in the air.

But it was then that the cold, clear voice resounded across all channels.

”Rapid response team has arrived. All units, take evasive action.”

Lorenzo had no Purification Mechanism communicator, thus unable to hear this, but sensed another demon rapidly closing in, then heard the whoosh of high-speed motion.

The Iron Serpent came along the industrial district tracks from the sight’s edge, massive steam clouds billowing from mechanical crevices, yet this was but the beginning. As it neared, the Iron Serpent’s armor segments flipped up one by one, faint sunlight illuminating the rugged armor beneath.

Lancelot raised the firearm in his hand, the slender barrel resembling a knight’s lance from centuries past, with the speeding Iron Serpent serving as his warhorse.

Approaching, the demon target magnified in his view, akin to a jousting knight, striking in the moment of horse crossing, pulling the trigger.

Flames danced and rose, the Dragon Breath Path blazing its way forward, piercing through the demon’s path.