Gun of Ashes

”Show it to him.”

”Are you sure?”

”This is a great opportunity.”

Watson nodded.

”Alright, but remember, everything comes with a price.”

Like a deal, no contract or signatures were needed, everything was settled in conversation.

Lorenzo watched them, sensing something was about to happen. He stepped on floating ice frozen in place. Under an unknown force, it was like a jungle of ice here. He crashed through ice spikes forged by seawater, but he was still one step behind.

It was an indescribable feeling, as if your mind opened in an instant, the sealed barriers shattered completely, finally revealing the true world.

It felt like a blade exceeding cognitive dimensions sliced through, splitting the entire world. Lorenzo found it hard to express the scene before him; a massive black fissure appeared in his vision. It wasn’t a static scar, seeming to directly affect the entire space. No matter the angle, it appeared the same.

The [Gap] was cut open, this confined cage was unlocked.

”Medanzo, you’re crazy!”

Lorenzo roared, of course. Even the toughest Demon Hunter would go mad after being with a demon for too long. Not to mention she was a Pseudo Holy Grail, the person Medanzo longed for. He shouldn’t have trusted him, just like Medanzo said, he was already dead. He was no longer the Medanzo he once knew.

Crashing through the clustered ice spikes, Lorenzo staggered to the two of them. He swung his fist fiercely but was firmly caught by Medanzo, unable to move downward an inch.

”Be rational, Lorenzo.”

Medanzo didn’t even look at him. He was only gazing at the rift that traversed the world, as if something lay within the deep darkness.

”Lorenzo, what do you think the [Gap] really is?”

Even at this hellish moment, Medanzo still calmly asked his questions.

”I only feel like you’re trying to let her go!”

”She won’t leave. Haven’t you ever thought about it? Lorenzo, the corruption is mutual. When you feel the demon’s oppression, the demon’s corruption also integrates into your will... just like now.”

Medanzo released his grip. Just as he said, Watson never made any extraneous moves from beginning to end, merely watching Lorenzo vent his long-accumulated anger.

”Look there, Lorenzo. You will understand.”

At this moment, Medanzo finally revealed his power. He forcibly pressed Lorenzo’s head, forcing him to look there. His familiarity with the motion suggested he’d done it many times before upon Lorenzo.

Initially, Lorenzo struggled a bit, but he soon ceased his resistance. The anger towards the demon gradually calmed, rationally looking into the pitch-black fissure. Whether out of fear of the unknown or confusion, Lorenzo felt a chill running through his veins.

”What is... that?”

He asked.

”The [Gap].”

”The [Gap]?”

Medanzo affirmed once more.

”That’s right... the [Gap], another [Gap].”

Looking into the profound darkness, Medanzo spoke with a hint of delight.

”Congratulations, Lorenzo. We’ve come one step closer to the truth of demons.”

Beyond the dark fissure, outside this [Gap], lay boundless darkness. But within this darkness flickered faint stars, while near Lorenzo and the others’ [Gap] shone bright points like the brilliance of daylight.