Gun of Ashes

The sight is pitch black, but unlike the first test drive of the Weapon Master, Lorenzo can’t feel the cold metal; instead, he is greeted by a somewhat warm embrace.

As Lorenzo enters the Black Angel, the inner wall tightly clings to his body. Perhaps due to the Holy Grail Flesh, the proportion of demon flesh inside the Black Angel is much higher. Although it has not yet started, Lorenzo can already feel those slowly wriggling chunks of flesh.

A faint current passes through Lorenzo’s body, making him slightly more alert. The pre-injected Florun Potion is also taking effect, gradually sharpening his senses and making perception increasingly keen.

”Begin preheating.”

The cold command rings in Lorenzo’s ears. Outside, Merlin pulls down the valve; fuel begins to be injected. Meanwhile, a familiar pain radiates from the spine, as tiny electrodes pierce beneath Lorenzo’s skin, linking him to the Armor of Original Sin.

”How does it feel, Lorenzo?”

Merlin’s voice sounds again, asking him.

”Not bad, let’s start.”

Hearing Lorenzo’s response, Merlin nods to the others. The command is input, and after a brief few seconds, lightning streaks across the darkness, illuminating the cold metal, flooding the twisted armor entirely.

In an instant, the indicator lights blaze brightly, illuminating everything around. The flesh writhes violently, pulling the iron feathers growing on them, rubbing against each other like a thousand swords clashing and slashing, readying to soar high.

Conspicuous white steam pours out of the gaps in the armor, not from mechanical cooling but from the awakening flesh. Blood pulses and circulates between the machinery; the heart beats powerfully, with the rough breathing growing louder.

Merlin’s heart is completely tense; in midair, the restraint device emits a red light. As the Black Angel activates, rivets nailed into it are gradually pushed away by the proliferating flesh, seemingly ready to pop out at any moment. The Geiger Counter also emits a shrill squeal, merging into a grand symphony.

The tune soars, ascending and spinning.

”By the way, Merlin, remember when I drove the Weapon Master last time? Actually, I didn’t lose control then.”

Inside the armor, Lorenzo remembers something. Before facing the uncontrollable unknown, he says to Merlin.

Things don’t feel too good now. The Black Angel starts to awaken, the temperature inside the armor rises, and Lorenzo feels like he’s locked inside a furnace. At the same time, the flesh proliferates, overflowing from the gaps in the steel, wrapping around Lorenzo.

”You lost consciousness.”

”No, during the unconsciousness, I reached the [Gap]. This Armor of Original Sin is like some kind of amplifier; through it, I can reach places I couldn’t otherwise. Maybe this time I’ll be able to go there again. If I exhibit a state of unconsciousness, don’t terminate the experiment.”

Lorenzo says with some difficulty, as the unnamed liquid gradually fills the cockpit along with the proliferating flesh, making him feel like he is soaked in amniotic fluid.

Upon hearing this, Merlin freezes, then realizes Lorenzo has played him, shouting into the communicator.

”You weren’t supposed to tell me these things. We need to reconsider.”

”No time to reconsider; it’s already awake!”

Lorenzo rejects, as the proliferating flesh connects with electrodes and along with them attains connection to Lorenzo’s body. Lorenzo already feels that strange sensation, as if his body has expanded.

He tries to breathe, but inhales some slightly foul liquid. The eerie erosion intensifies as the Black Angel steadily awakens, pressing on Lorenzo like a mountainous weight.

Chaotic hallucinations and memories rush in, striking his nerves, bringing sharp pain.

The terrifying erosion descends; communication failure is the best explanation. Meanwhile, the Geiger Counters installed around also reach the critical level, unable to measure the strength of the erosion.

Everyone’s heart is suspended; if this situation doesn’t reverse within minutes, the erosion will spread to the entire experiment field, making the experiment a failure.

The security team stands ready, various emergency measures are in place. Although this experiment convenes so quickly, they’ve made ample preparations in the shortest time.

In fact, nobody knows what will happen after Lorenzo starts the Black Angel. What follows is largely unknown; whether it’s life or death, no one is sure.

Time passes bit by bit until at one long moment, the red indicator light flickers and turns into harmonious luminous green.

”S...Succeeded?”

Merlin is somewhat incredulous, but the gradually diminishing Geiger index soon proves it. The Black Angel’s external erosion is stabilizing, and Lorenzo is gradually mastering control of the armor.

”Lorenzo, are you still awake?”

The interference from the erosion persists. Merlin shouts loudly at the Black Angel, but there is no response. The steam engine runs normally, the iron feathers rise and fall with the demon’s breath; everything is so silent, as if time stands still.

Lorenzo’s vision is engulfed in darkness, all light rapidly receding. The warm flesh envelops him layer by layer, consuming his flesh, slowly merging with him, crossing rough electrodes, manipulating everything directly through the flesh.

In the long darkness, human perception blurs. Everything appears so distant, yet seemingly only a few seconds have passed. Just as thoughts were on the verge of stagnation, in the darkness Lorenzo suddenly feels an eerie sense of emptiness, and the next moment his body is caught by gravity, forcefully plummeting downward.