Gun of Ashes

[Connection failed.]

[Reconnecting…]

The stars in that dim sky are calling out to Lorenzo, longing for the return of their children.

Lorenzo is completely frozen in place, Watson’s protection continues, making it impossible for Lorenzo to reconnect to the Static Sanctuary.

”We used to be confused by this, unable to understand because we were merely ’connected ones,’ but now with... Watson’s help, although she’s not very trustworthy, at least we’ve become the same ’managers.’”

Medanzo extended an invitation to Lorenzo.

”Interested in going ’home’ to take a look?”

…

The alarm echoes within the Perpetual Motion Pump, sharp and piercing, like a woman’s scream.

The entire workshop’s passageways open once more, but this time, heavily armed security forces step inside, carrying experimental weapons, which are mostly abandoned due to high mass-production costs, yet here they are the basic security armaments.

The security soldiers wear heavy isolation suits, with massive steam packs on their backs, holding clunky firearms connected via steam conduits to their hands’ triple guns, the massive triple fire guns powered by steam, firing electric spears that can disrupt mechanical operations, far more rapid than gunpowder due to the explosive force of high-pressure gas, capable of instant armor-breaking suppression.

They stand ready, their heartbeats rising in sync with the gradually opening gates.

But behind the gates, there’s no fearsome Demon, nor any out-of-control Armor; the Weapon Master stands silently at the center of the steel altar, the rampant flesh stops growing after reaching a certain extent, resembling a flesh garden, with dark red vines crawling over the steel armor.

The chestplate gently rises and falls, agitated along with the intense heartbeat.

”Security squad is in position.”

A voice rings in the communication channel; it’s not the first time the security team dealt with an out-of-control armor, but it’s their first time encountering such a quiet armor, unlike those with strong aggressive tendencies, it’s unnervingly calm.

The security team doesn’t dare to move further in; essentially, they’re the second line of defense, with the first inside the workshop, heavy firepower installed at the dome above, but in the strong light, no one can glimpse through.

”What’s the situation?”

A new voice rings out in the channel; Merlin’s voice appears from the high platform in the workshop, he used his authority to forcibly open the high passage and entered the workshop.

”It hasn’t lost control, but there’s no response.”

Tesla looks toward the high platform on the other side of the well wall; Merlin appears there, actually, Merlin already violated many regulations by forcibly entering the sealed-off area, but this incident differs from all previous ones as there’s a Demon Hunter inside the out-of-control armor.

Merlin feels he must personally arrive at the scene to observe everything.

”What’s happening, explain?”

He asks in the channel.

”Mr. Holmes remained motionless in the armor, Demon flesh grows aberrantly, erosion deepens and spreads gradually... he seems to have fainted, not taking any action, but not controlled by the Demon either, just staying put.”

Tesla tries to remain calm, as this is an unprecedented situation for him; typically when a pilot faints, the armor is driven by the unconscious Demon flesh with strong aggression, but now it’s eerily calm.

”What’s the fuel consumption like?”

”The Weapon Master is currently operating at the lowest energy consumption; we didn’t fill it up with fuel, and it will soon run out.”

The steam engine of the Armor of Original Sin is one of the main outputs, and it also requires fuel consumption; however, since this is just an experiment, Tesla only injected a small amount of fuel into the Weapon Master.

”Security squad, act immediately, drag our Mr. Holmes out of the armor.”

After a slight silence, Merlin gives the order.

”Not waiting for the fuel to run out?”

Tesla is somewhat confused; when the fuel runs out and the steam engine stops, the output of the Armor of Original Sin will significantly decrease, making the operation much safer.

”The longer the delay, the deeper the erosion; he still has Secret Blood in him... Lorenzo himself is the biggest uncontrollable factor.”

Mysterious Demon Hunters, they themselves are children of Demons.

With Merlin’s words, the operation quickly begins, the security squad steps toward the center of the steel altar, treading on the slightly warm neutralizing liquid.

As extremely hazardous Armor of Original Sin, it was designed from the start to handle losing control, with emergency opening valves activated from outside the armor, protected by heavy armor to prevent accidental activation and placed discreetly.

Countless gazes cross the gun barrels focusing on the silent Weapon Master; rampant flesh like wildly growing vines, they carefully cut through the flesh, letting gushes of fresh blood flow, but even so, the armor remains unresponsive, until they pull the hidden valve, and hot steam rushes out of the gaps.

The back armor springs up suddenly, accompanied by rising white smoke, and the already unconscious Lorenzo appears in everyone’s view.

The rampant flesh growth has already invaded inside the armor; most of his body is entangled with the flesh, and he remains unresponsive; the security guard cuts through some of the flesh with a knife, thin nerve electrodes pull out from his body drawing drops of fresh blood.

Lorenzo is dragged out directly, everything unfolds uneventfully, but afterward there is an immense anxiety hard to articulate.

The first instance in the Armor of Original Sin experiment records.

”What’s happened to him?”

After ensuring the Armor of Original Sin is completely shut down, the crisis temporarily relieves, the elevator platform on the well wall descends, Tesla and Merlin hurry to the center of the steel altar.

Lorenzo seems to have fallen into a deep coma, lying unresponsive on the ground, several experimental fire guns pointed at his head, firing simultaneously could turn him into mince.

”No response at all.”

The research personnel removes the probe from his brain; they examine Lorenzo immediately, but all feedback values are bizarre.

”What does ’no response’ mean?”

Tesla can’t help but ask; every pilot emerging from the armor, even conscious, shows poor values in checks, similar to dying patients, but with Lorenzo, there’s nothing.

”No abnormalities… he… he just seems asleep.”

The person says.

”Like… like the soul isn’t here.”

He doesn’t know why he says that, clearly it’s a place that venerates scientific reasoning, yet he uses ’soul’ to explain it all.

”Alright, understood; place him… temporarily house him using Demon containment methods, but I don’t mean you should immediately lock him in an iron cell, tie him to an iron bed, we do have some human rights here!”

Merlin speaks to those security team members eager to execute Lorenzo outright.

Like a ridiculous farce, swiftly unfolding and concluding.

Tesla looks at his superior with a bit of skepticism, thinking and asking.

”You know his status, don’t you?”

”Tesla, you are a genius, but some knowledge isn’t yet for you to understand now.”

Merlin knows he can’t hide, especially facing this rare genius.

”Suspend the project temporarily until he wakes up; don’t activate it.”

”What should I do?”

Tesla says with some discontent; the project ends as soon as it begins, utterly maddening.

”Continue your electricity project; didn’t you say you’re close to results?”

”And you?”

Tesla inquires.

Actually few notice, within the Perpetual Motion Pump, technology is slowly upgrading; if Tesla represents modern technology among scholars, Merlin serves as the example of the nearly vanished Alchemy, which once, this mysterious technique helped the Purification Mechanism endure the hardest times, now it gradually disappears here.

”I need to find Arthur, some things need discussion.”

Merlin doesn’t give Tesla a chance to pursue questions, turning away, the atmosphere in the workshop very delicate, except for Joey and Red Falcon relieved they’re temporarily not guinea pigs, embracing each other tearfully with joy.