Gun of Ashes

The Florun Potion quickly flowed through the bloodstream, spreading throughout the entire body in an instant under the strong pulsations of the heart.

Consciousness gradually awakened, like being in the cold wind, the icy sensation spreading across the skin, all drowsiness and fatigue disappearing completely, followed by an acute sharpness of the senses.

It was a difficult-to-describe ”clarity,” as if an unknown fog had once shrouded this world, but now those mists had vanished, and Lorenzo could clearly observe the essence of everything.

”Lorenzo...”

Selyu called out worriedly, standing behind the door, looking at him with a bit of fear.

Everyone felt it, at the moment Lorenzo came into contact with the soldiers, an immense and terrifying corruption emanated from the Demon Hunter’s body, like a nightmare descending into reality, with frenzied wails and twisted claws clawing at everyone.

In that moment, Selyu even lost the ability to think, like creatures in nature when a predator discovered her, that instant of despair left her with no thoughts of resistance.

The deepest, most despairing terror.

Yawei also looked wary, his old face covered in sweat, maybe using all the courage he had to rush over and inject the Florun Potion into Lorenzo.

He wiped off the sweat with his sleeve; this was no time for manners.

”I’m okay.”

Lorenzo answered briefly, his expression solemn.

Then he quickly proved it with his actions; he retracted the Folding Blade, the remaining armor shedding, falling sparingly to the ground with a metallic clatter.

”It was Dean Lawrence.”

He said to Red Falcon, who was walking over.

”He traveled here through the Gap, but fortunately, I repelled him.”

Should have repelled him, otherwise, I would have been occupied by Dean Lawrence by now.

Red Falcon was terrified; he asked.

”Are you sure?”

This is the Mechanical Institute; although it bears the name of research, it’s a fortress of war, with countless heavy firepower installed inside, and below lies the mysterious Perpetual Motion Pump.

The expansive industrial district and mining area make for the best battlefield; even if a myriad of demons invaded, they could rely on strong firepower to repel them, but now the most relied upon barrier was useless, and the unseen enemy had easily reached here.

Lorenzo nodded; though reluctant to admit it, it was exactly that—their enemies had become more cunning and terrible. Red Falcon, who had never reached the Gap like those who had never seen the ocean, couldn’t understand Lorenzo’s words, or at least not understand them so deeply.

Until this fact appeared before his eyes, only then did he clearly feel the dread of this power.

Lorenzo tucked the Folding Blade into his chest, ignoring Red Falcon’s subtle expression, and whispered softly.

”Fear comes from the unseen.”

This is the demon, this is the unknown mystery.

”Selyu, come with me.”

Lorenzo suddenly turned to the girl beside him and said.

Selyu wasn’t quite sure what Lorenzo was up to, but out of a somewhat dependent trust, she obediently stepped out.

The atmosphere was strange, or perhaps it had been since Lorenzo woke up.

Red Falcon was just about to say something when Lorenzo directly interrupted him, saying.

”Take his body to the Perpetual Motion Pump—perhaps something can be found.”

”But...”

He wanted to say something more, but suddenly saw Lorenzo’s gaze, and the remaining words were suddenly swallowed back, as if his thoughts had been interrupted.

It was not a human gaze, as if the remnant of a demon god’s possession, peering into a scarlet spot.

”Yawei, go prepare some weapons and go with Red Falcon, he’ll equip you.”

He turned his head again, speaking to Yawei.

”Me?”

”Yes, our enemies are terrifying; even if you’re an old man, you have to take action, don’t you?”

Lorenzo coolly responded.

Yawei, for a moment, found it hard to refute this guy. He paused and walked over to Red Falcon.

Everyone got moving, according to Lorenzo’s plan, hurried footsteps echoed nearby, Lorenzo seemed quite anxious. He picked up the box containing the Florun Potion, then grabbed Selyu’s hand, quickly heading down the passage; his strides were large, making it difficult for Selyu to keep up.

”Where are we going?”

Selyu hesitantly asked; she could feel it, something was about to happen, and she was a bit uneasy.

”Mouse Trap.”

Lorenzo said playfully.

”You’re the cheese on the trap, and Dean Lawrence is that pesky mouse, we need to guide him into the trap.”

”But didn’t you repel him?”

”If he could give up so easily, he wouldn’t be Dean Lawrence.”

Lorenzo replied, his strides suddenly stopping, pulling Selyu into a nearby warehouse as a squad of soldiers just passed by the entrance.

Selyu quietly watched it all; Lorenzo was avoiding them, though for what reason she didn’t know.

...

”This isn’t the way to the ’Mouse Trap,’ is it?”

In silent progress, Selyu asked.

The vast fortress was already left behind, with cold winds sweeping up thick dust that mingled with the burnt remains of coal, passing by like a gray whirlwind.

Selyu could only close her eyes to avoid it, while the Demon Hunter stood upright in it like a stone pillar.

After the strong wind passed, on the desolate mining field, the dust-covered train platform was there, as due to the vastness of the industrial district, leaving here usually involved taking the train.