Gun of Ashes

”Secret Blood is iron, and the Alchemy Matrix is the furnace; it forges it into the shape of a sword. I’m just using it forcibly, unable to unleash its full potential.”

”So you’re saying if you unleash its full potential, you can become young again?”

The Plague Doctor mocked, this is an unrealistic power. No one can return to youth; that is the power to reverse time.

”It’s just having someone else’s youth.”

Lawrence the Dean responded.

”Through the erosion of the [Gap], I can erode another person’s [Gap] and destroy his will, thus killing him, or influencing him, even using him as a link to expand on a large scale.”

This is the power of erosion, a continuously spreading viral transmission.

”So what?”

The Plague Doctor didn’t understand, the Evangelical Church possesses mysterious and forbidden knowledge beyond imagination.

”What if I replaced that person’s [Gap]?”

He suddenly said.

The Plague Doctor was initially stunned, then came the coldness from the bottom of his heart, a chill more bizarre and terrifying than facing the Holy Grail.

Touching the forbidden power, that madness suffocates and torments the mortal mind.

Although the Holy Grail has terrifying power, the Plague Doctor has his confidence. With his power, currently, no one can completely kill him, but what if it’s from a spiritual level?

The [Gap] is a person’s spiritual world. What if Lawrence the Dean seized that [Gap]?

”The existence of the [Gap] is very interesting. I even feel it is related to the nature of demons. I can influence and expand through it, or use it to kill a person.”

He continued.

”When you destroy a person’s will in the [Gap], it is equivalent to killing his consciousness, his soul, sometimes you even perceive his memories and such...”

This is the source of Lorenzo’s confusion after killing Horner’s will; in the chaotic illusions, he saw those chaotic memories.

”But if you completely reside there... it’s actually like soul transfer? Or is it will transfer, it’s basically the same meaning.”

The Plague Doctor looked at him with some horror, then asked.

”Do you want to replace that girl?”

He was referring to Selyu Stuart, as Lawrence the Dean’s collaborator, he knew well what Lawrence the Dean was doing, but he never thought he would do such things.

Lawrence the Dean shook his head and said.

”Impossible, she has other uses.”

”Of course, to some extent, it is also related to the Demon Hunter from the Medanzo branch. I am really curious which of my apprentices survived.”

That burning night, according to Lawrence the Dean’s script, all those people should have died, resting eternally under that dark night.

”So back to the matter at hand, Plague Doctor, we humans and demons are ultimately different, even if we seize the power of Secret Blood, we have the risk of losing control and also need the Alchemy Matrix for assistance.”

”Actually, this power is fascinating, it’s like a thick book; we cannot precisely turn to the page we need, and the Alchemy Matrix acts as a table of contents, giving us what we need, but limited by the weak human body, we receive these but can no longer bear others.”

Lawrence the Dean reminisced about the rules belonging to the Demon Hunters, like a container, the human body itself limits how much it can obtain.

”Hence, Demon Hunters can only extract one Authority from Secret Blood, multiple Authorities exist only in theory, but even if it really happens and the Demon Hunter survives, it would accelerate the Demon Hunter’s collapse. Perhaps when successfully activating multiple Authorities, the body and will would collapse due to the erosion of Secret Blood.”

”So does it mean that the so-called Alchemy Matrix instead protects you?”

The Plague Doctor asked.

Those powers are hidden within Secret Blood, but through the Alchemy Matrix, the Demon Hunter can only selectively awaken one among them and control it perfectly.

”Yes, but I am a Shangdafeng Demon Hunter, although with the added power of the Holy Grail I can mobilize part of the [Gap]’s power, it’s still imperfect, unable to do something like seizing will.”

The power of the [Gap], Lawrence the Dean was also exploring, with the help of ”Revelation,” he understands this power much more clearly than Lorenzo, but therefore he knows very well what he needs.

”So what do you want me to do?”

”Inscribe a new Alchemy Matrix.”

Lawrence the Dean directly said, his voice carrying the chill of the cold wind.

”Multiple Authorities can only exist in theory because the Demon Hunter’s body is too weak. But now it’s different, Plague Doctor, the Holy Grail is eroding my flesh, I am stronger than ever, and closer to death than ever before.”

Like the fireworks of that night, at the brightest moment, it will also vanish into the night.

The Plague Doctor looked at those trusting eyes, this old man had an expression of complete trust in the Plague Doctor, as if this was bound to succeed.

”Then whose body do you want to seize?”

The Plague Doctor asked.

To this, Lawrence the Dean smiled. He already had a candidate in mind.

”The surviving Medanzo Demon Hunter, I’ve crossed swords with him, he will be a perfect vessel, only it’s a pity that after seizing that body, I can’t continue using the Shangdafeng Authority.”

The Alchemy Matrix on Lorenzo points to the Medanzo Authority, which means if Lawrence the Dean seizes Lorenzo’s body, he will abandon this aging body and the Alchemy Matrix on it that points to Shangdafeng’s Authority.

This is quite a pity; the power of foresight Lawrence the Dean has used for so long, thinking about losing it makes him reluctant.

”Rest assured, having been the Dean for so long, I know the inscribing process of the Alchemy Matrix, I will guide you.”

Lawrence the Dean said to the silent Plague Doctor. The reason he needed the Plague Doctor was that Lawrence the Dean could not complete this alone.

Of course, he was not afraid of the Plague Doctor betraying or anything halfway through. Not to mention the foresight Authority; the Holy Grail Flesh in Lawrence the Dean’s body grants him strong vitality. Moreover, a significant reason he needs the Alchemy Matrix is that the independent seizure poses substantial risks. He is unsure if it will succeed; the Alchemy Matrix will clarify the direction of the Authority and allow him to perfectly control this power.

In the long silence, the Plague Doctor shook his head and said.

”I’m not thinking about these, Lawrence the Dean.”

The Plague Doctor looked at Lawrence the Dean and asked.

”The Alchemy Matrix that points to controlling the [Gap]...”

He glimpsed an insight, carrying the coldness of exploring the secrets.

”So you’re saying... controlling the [Gap] is also a form of Authority?”

That is to say, there exists a mysterious branch of Demon Hunters whose Authority is to walk within the [Gap].

This isn’t some power granted by the Holy Grail; it has always existed, just undiscovered until now.

Looking at those eyes full of fear from deep within the mask, Lawrence the Dean answered meaningfully.

”Yes.”