Gun of Ashes

”Plan? Wait! What plan!”

Red Falcon was immediately confused; isn’t this a meeting? Aren’t plans discussed during meetings? How did it start already!

But Lorenzo had no more time to explain. He directly tossed out the Folding Blade, savoring its slightly heavy feel.

”Doesn’t matter, you won’t know much to ensure secrecy. Just inform Arthur directly.”

”Then what are you going to do?”

Red Falcon, seeing Lorenzo’s murderous demeanor, involuntarily took a few steps back.

”What I must do.”

He replied, the Secret Blood surging.

Power beyond the ordinary was infused into this body, the Secret Blood coursing impulsively through veins, continuously growing, transforming the human physique into the power of a Demon.

Thus the gray-blue pupils slightly trembled, with ember-white flames arising deep within their depths.

Dean Lawrence’s target was Selyu. Although it was unclear what value this unfortunate child had, if he indeed invaded, then presumably it would be her.

Just wait and watch, though certainly not letting Dean Lawrence succeed.

Lorenzo burst into a sprint, his explosive strength reverberating his rapid footsteps in the corridor, as if some monster moved forward.

This actually surprised Lorenzo somewhat. He hadn’t expected Dean Lawrence to arrive so swiftly, and another shock was that Dean Lawrence could infiltrate here.

According to Medanzo’s explanation, traversing the Gap required eroding a Beacon. Thus at this moment, something or someone within this Mechanical Institute was emitting Dean Lawrence’s erosion.

This individual, used as a stepping stone, had long existed but only now emerged.

Truly a monstrous being that lived for an unknown timeframe; Dean Lawrence must’ve planned this long ago.

Whether it was Lorenzo, the Purification Mechanism... or even the Evangelical Church, they all proceeded under the screenplay of Dean Lawrence, advancing according to his script, pushing the story to develop.

Blaring alarms echoed, resonating within the steel fortress as the large lift shaft connected to the Perpetual Motion Pump closed entirely; then countless gates dropped, sealing off the entire fortress and completely isolating it from the outside world.

This was a strategy devised by Lorenzo and Arthur: since Dean Lawrence could spread like a virus among people using the Gap as a springboard, isolating from the outside—even if unable to capture him—would at least eliminate all his Beacons embedded within the Purification Mechanism.

Thus it could be said that Dean Lawrence is now trapped within the fortress, his presence attached to some ill-fated individual.

Dense scale armor formed over his body; layer by layer of black, sturdy armor accumulated over Lorenzo, finally swallowing him completely, so that ghastly white flames erupted from between the joints.

Rushing past the last corner, only a step remained to Selyu’s room.

Perhaps hearing the heavy footfalls, Selyu stood at the doorway, curiously glancing aside, then she saw the black armor lifting its blade.

”Duck!”

He shouted.

Selyu instinctively complied, immediately before the wind slashed past, metal cutting through the air, with a mixed piercing shriek deafening.

She had no idea what had happened; it wasn’t until this electric flash storm subsided that she slowly lifted her head, looking to the other side.

Somehow a soldier had gotten close to the door, but was blocked by Lorenzo at the last moment.

The Black Knight shielded them like a wall; without the blessing of Secret Blood, the soldier’s ordinary human body couldn’t withstand Lorenzo. He decisively lifted the gun barrel, firing at Lorenzo, as high-speed bullets struck and sparked off the black armor.

With a whistling wind, the Folding Blade slashed down. Though the body wasn’t strong enough, the soldier barely evaded the first wave of close-range attacks, but the second swipe immediately followed even faster.

It happened in an instant; the sturdy Folding Blade directly sheared away the soldier’s rifle. The force of the impact meant the soldier couldn’t retain his grip, his arms flung wide.

Lorenzo grasped his throat, lifting it slowly.

”Dean Lawrence?”

A muffled voice emerged from under the Face Armor, carrying a sinister smile.

”Not bad learning.”

After a brief silence, the soldier’s voice twisted but was barely discernible.

Having understood Dean Lawrence’s purpose, it was instead easy to ascertain where he intended to go.

At present, the host body was merely a regular person; Dean Lawrence could do nothing, but following a peculiar laughter, inexplicable strength surged within the soldier, his hand grabbing onto Lorenzo’s arm.

”Did you learn this, too?”

In the next moment, searing pain erupted within Lorenzo’s mind, eerily familiar, just like before—Dean Lawrence’s machinations indeed at work.

Yet amidst Lorenzo’s hideous agony, a trace of a smile emerged.

”Fits my purpose perfectly, Dean Lawrence.”

The Demon Hunter said, welcoming the impending pain rather than resisting it.

The corridor began to collapse, all sounds stretched and twisted, convention shattered, the laws of physics rewritten, the scenery in sight shattered like a kaleidoscope, innumerable mirrored fragments reflecting a bizarre world until finally a chilling blast of wind swept it all away.

When vision restored, the scene was entirely different.

An endless wilderness spread before him. It seemed a battle had just ended here, the piles of dead bodies scattered, sporadic flames burning slowly amid the ashes, half-burned dry grass lifted by the wind, whisked away into oblivion.

The blazing sun had already set, partially hidden beneath the clouds, dyeing half the sky a vivid scarlet.

Lorenzo appeared somewhat confused initially, then gripped the weapon at hand, gazing towards a silhouette beneath the dying sun, a shadow stretched infinitely, nearly swallowing the earth.

”So, this is your Gap?”

A voice echoed from beneath the black Face Armor; Lorenzo questioned.

Dean Lawrence didn’t hurriedly respond; instead, he admired the nonexistent scenery, as if reminiscing the past, exhaling a sigh before clutching the Nail Sword at hand tighter, his gaze filled with unwavering approval.

”Indeed, seems I haven’t entirely understood the power of this Gap; otherwise, I wouldn’t be counteracted by you… how did you manage it?”

”Just a spark of inspiration, a triggering insight.”

Lorenzo replied.

”When you invade, doesn’t it also mean I can thereby locate you, your Gap?”

”Just like a fishing line, beware of a big fish overturning everything.”

Mocking laughter echoed beneath the black armor.

He slowly lifted the Folding Blade, the smooth surface reflecting a woman’s face; Watson watched Lorenzo with a smile; she always remained that way, silent.

Like a curse stalking beside him and the pain in his wounds, she constantly reminded Lorenzo.

”So this is the battleground I desired.”

Lorenzo murmured to himself.

Irrelevant of others, no soldiers, no Arthur, no Selyu, solely him and Dean Lawrence, uninvolved with anyone else, without any worries—just their one-on-one life-or-death duel.

”Come on, teacher, let’s see how well I’ve honed my skills recently.”

He spoke with a slight ease, watching the slowly approaching old man, his back to the setting sun, as if carrying the blood-soaked sky upon his shoulders.