Gun of Ashes

The cold air burst out from the ventilation system, directly covering the Demon.

As the ventilation system worked, the obstructive mist dissipated, and Lorenzo realized he had arrived at a collapsed gate, confirmed by the blurry markings.

Containment Chamber No. 4.

To ensure the Demons remain at a low temperature, the chamber is connected to the entire cooling system.

The Demons howled hoarsely, as the undiffused cold gas engulfed them. A layer of frost clearly froze onto the flesh, and with helpless twisting, the entire arm broke like plaster.

But this could not completely kill the Demon; it maintained a high temperature internally, resisting the cold to some extent.

Lorenzo decisively made his move, raising his Winchester and firing continuously into the pale cold mist.

The flesh was instantly frozen, then shattered by the bullets, collapsing like a crumbling sculpture.

”So cold...”

Within the deformed flesh, a vague consciousness lamented.

Horner sprinted across the icy wasteland, unable to remember how he got there or how to leave. His mind was filled with Lawrence’s image as he tried to chase, but was consumed by cold and hunger.

The cold world seemed to shatter, merging with deep crimson steel, as a dark knight slowly raised a gun towards him.

”No... No...”

”No!”

Amidst the screams, the Demon rapidly advanced, its flesh crumbling due to the solidification from movement. But that was not enough; it couldn’t die, not yet.

Standing on the stage, how could it willingly exit so easily?

Scorching blood dripped like lava, countless hands reached for Lorenzo, followed by the ignition of flames.

Watching the Demon roar within the flames, Lorenzo’s suspicion seemed to be confirmed.

The inferior Secret Blood lost control; the Demon now was akin to a fully demonized Demon Hunter, yet strangely possessed a trait of Authority without the processing of an Alchemy Matrix.

That extreme temperature, Michael.

Propping itself up, it attacked Lorenzo, but this time Lorenzo neither dodged nor did anything else, simply reloading his Winchester as the Demon charged them both into the chamber.

It’s unimaginable what the Demon did during its breach, the chamber in complete disarray, stained with blood. Imagining, Lorenzo envisioned the horror as the Demon fed.

Sharp claws cut through armor; this time, its scarlet mouth tried to engulf Lorenzo, but at the critical moment, Purifying Flame flared again, and Lorenzo broke free and moved elsewhere.

The Demon was finally fully exposed in the open area, allowing Lorenzo to observe its entirety for the first time.

Like a beast sewn together from countless broken limbs, its hands swaying like seaweed.

Scattered gunfire rang out, Arthur stood at the chamber’s entrance, shattering several pipes, allowing cold gas to spray out and gradually cover the chamber.

This was the final duel arena.

The Demon Hunter’s Nail Sword lowered slightly, feeling some apprehension towards the twisted mass of flesh.

Lorenzo needed to destroy the Demon’s head and heart, yet it had lost its human form, making it impossible to predict, amid its extreme temperature, offering Lorenzo little room for error.

”Cooling pipeline!”

Arthur’s voice suddenly rang in the communicator; the old man knew he was of little use now, thus he hid outside the door.

”Explain clearly! Arthur!”

Lorenzo fired again, the ignited Dragon Breath Bullet created a fire curtain, although ineffective in dealing heavy damage, served to obscure vision.

The Demon Hunter crouched and swiftly moved under the curtain of fire, agility being one of his advantages.

”The cooling system’s main pipeline is connected to the chamber, which might freeze it completely!”

”Then where is it?”

Lorenzo asked, speaking as sharp claws swept by, he tilted his head slightly to dodge and counterattacked.

”Right beneath it!”

Arthur said.

The Demon was at the chamber’s center, where Arthur and Merlin stood not long ago.

”The pipeline is beneath the metal plate, well-protected since it’s a main artery! But you saw it; that ghostly thing is burning hot!”

With this explained, Lorenzo understood what Arthur needed him to do.

To provoke or ignite the Demon to the extreme, melting everything below, eventually covered by the surging cold gas.

Like standing on the brink of an erupting volcano, though what erupted was lethal frost.

It seemed the optimal solution for now, Lorenzo didn’t hesitate and immediately charged towards the Demon, swinging his sword with maximum speed.

Everything in his view slowed down, claws extended from all directions, and amidst this deadly attack, Lorenzo found a safe path to the Demon.

The Nail Sword swung, severing the bloodied arm, relentlessly advancing.

Scorching blood gushed, its terrifying heat gradually melted the metal floor, liquid metal flowed, forcing Lorenzo to move quickly.

He needed to inflict more wounds, cause the Demon to bleed more profusely.

As if a non-human duel, countless arms carrying sharp claws descended, while the Nail Sword must sever them before they struck.

The Demon could self-heal, but the weapon couldn’t; the Holy Silver coating started wearing off from the intense combat, cracks appeared on the blade’s edge, gaps along the sword expanded.

Suddenly a claw hit Lorenzo, striking heavily on the armor and leaving a deep wound.

The Demon Hunter’s defense showed a flaw, followed by more claws descending, with attacks swift as storm.

The situation reversed, Lorenzo’s sword force suppressed momentarily; counterattacks resumed, but this time Lorenzo didn’t defend, letting claws hit him while attempting to inflict larger wounds on the Demon.

Medanzo’s Authority granted Lorenzo the toughest armor, providing resilience surpassing the Demon’s recovery capacity, enabling Lorenzo to exchange injury for injury.

Finally, within seconds, the scalding blood pierced the steel, extreme cold surged.

Lorenzo instinctively retreated to avoid the cold, but the Demon’s bloated body couldn’t do the same, instantly enveloped by white mist, with claws frozen in mid-air, covered in frost.

Winchester responded with fire, constantly injecting metal to clear the fleshy plate armor.

This was the only strategy now: freeze, then shatter completely along with its heart and brain.

This was what Lorenzo must do.

The gunfire lasted nearly half a minute, with lethal cold gas covering most of the area, the Demon showed no further reaction, aside from the crackling sound of solidified flesh and shattered bullets.

Eventually, the shooting ceased, leaving only two Holy Silver singular bullets, all other ammo depleted. Arthur walked over, wary of the slightly moving mist.

”Is it dead?”

”I’m not sure.”

Lorenzo replied briefly.

The lethal mist was also a threat to Lorenzo, he dared not check rashly.

He glanced at the cracked Nail Sword, then as he raised his head, the mist surged forward.

Frost-covered hideous mouthpiece charged out of the icy fog, with most flesh beginning to crumble, pale bones twisting to maintain final stability.

At this moment, Lorenzo could only push Arthur away forcefully, then the mouthpiece engulfed him.

When Lorenzo could see again, the clear sky was overhead, underfoot was snow stretching to the horizon.

Clutching the Nail Sword, in front of him Horner stood shivering in the snow, as if dumbfounded by the appearance of the Demon Hunter, showing a silly smile, then slowly approached.