Gun of Ashes

”We first activated the emergency systems within the armor. Although they were damaged and went offline within seconds due to the proliferating flesh, we successfully injected a large dose of Florun Potion into your body and electrified the armor.”

”Electrified?”

Inside the armor, Lorenzo began coughing forcefully, each time feeling as if he were coughing up blood.

”Electric current can effectively inhibit muscle activity—though primitive, it’s quite effective... well... there’s also a certain lethality, but it’s dealing with a Demon, so no need to be gentle, right?”

Merlin shouted to Lorenzo from above, the distance between them was quite far, only this way could he be heard.

”But I’m still inside!”

Lorenzo couldn’t help but shout, torn by excruciating pain from his body. He might be played to death by these people even before being slain by the new Pope.

”This is the Armor of Original Sin mixed with Holy Grail Flesh. It’s never too much to handle it seriously, and besides, you’re a Demon Hunter, right? Far better than us mere mortals.”

Merlin continued, ”Moreover, within the armor, the pilot’s section has an insulation layer that activates when electrified, though not guaranteeing 100% safety, at least the risk isn’t that high.”

”But I still got shocked!”

Lorenzo cursed angrily.

”Yes, yes, because the membrane layer was covered by flesh before activation. That’s just how the Black Angel is. Perhaps due to the Holy Grail Flesh mixed in, its activity is much higher than other Armor of Original Sin, frequently covering mechanical parts, sometimes I can’t even determine whether it counts as Armor of Original Sin, or a Demon you can wear.”

Merlin, abandoning solemnity, casually chatted with Lorenzo.

”Lorenzo, are you okay? Can you stand up?”

Lorenzo couldn’t be bothered with him, trying hard to look at the lighted area, the iron gaps not yet covered by flesh allowed him to see the outside.

Like a toddler learning to walk, following instincts, Lorenzo tried to get up from the ground, hardly realizing he was inside the armor, enveloped by sticky flesh, merely focused on standing up, while his body followed suit.

”Seeing you so miserable, how about I invite you to dinner afterwards? How about ordering the... Stargazy Pie?”

That damn voice of Merlin came over, Lorenzo recalled those eerie fish heads from his words, couldn’t help but swear.

”Enough with the nonsense, alright?”

”Do you think I’m someone who likes to talk nonsense?”

Merlin replied, his back against the light, his silhouette pitch black.

”Lorenzo Holmes, you still maintain sanity after awakening, capable of normal communication with humans, possessing logic, and able to control your body; the Geiger index has also stabilized.”

Merlin wasn’t even looking at him; he simply spoke idly, standing on the mechanical arm recording data in his notebook. None of this was nonsense, just a simple approach to test Lorenzo’s sanity.

He slowly lifted his head, and the long-empty look in his rigid face finally held a glimmer of light. He put away the notebook and clapped.

”Congratulations, Lorenzo Holmes, it seems you have succeeded.”

The flesh rose and fell with his breaths, Iron Feather emitted slight friction sounds, a deep rumble came from his chest, and in the dark red glow, the steam engine continued to operate. Lorenzo slowly stood up.

The Black Angel stood shrouded in ethereal light upon the earth.