Gun of Ashes

”The Well of Ascension...”

Lawrence reached out his hand, seemingly wanting to touch this bizarre object, but a sudden strange sensation came from his mind, a sort of inexplicable nausea, as if he had touched an invisible wall, resisting him, refusing him entry.

In an instant, there was a stinging sensation of separation. Clearly, the will of this body had already been destroyed by him, yet now Lawrence felt an extremely clear rejection, something was attacking his will, driving him out of this body.

He swiftly retreated, not daring to approach the Well of Ascension recklessly.

”Don’t you know? You cannot approach it; that is your forbidden area.”

A man’s voice rang out alongside footsteps, and Lawrence swiftly turned his head, only to see the iron mask. The New Pope, as usual, wore his sacred robes and a majestic crown, his gaze shrouded in darkness from within the iron mask.

He stood not far from Lawrence, his voice tinged with a slight curiosity.

”Your actions are becoming increasingly incomprehensible to me; you never used to engage in such meaningless activities.”

The New Pope recalled his previous battle with Lorenzo. He was unclear about Lorenzo’s identity, simply categorizing him as one of those ”things” familiar to the New Pope—those things were always known for their efficiency and ruthlessness, rarely engaging in superfluous acts.

His gaze gradually tightened, recalling the news from the former pope’s mouth, Lorenzo de’ Medici’s plan seemed to have succeeded, the New Pope seemed to realize something.

”Cardinal Medici?” he asked softly.

Lawrence remained silent. Although it wasn’t his own body, this mortal physique had reached its limit of vigilance, but more so was the fear in his heart.

This was not fear of the New Pope, but fear of those unknown mysteries.

In just a few words, so much information was revealed.

The New Pope knew he couldn’t touch the Well of Ascension, but it was Lawrence’s first time arriving here in this manner. Or did the New Pope encounter many people using Power of Gabriel before Lawrence, and disputes had already arisen with the Well of Ascension?

You...

Yes, that makes sense. According to Lawrence’s speculation, in the history of the Evangelical Church, the Power of Gabriel had been sealed away for some reason. So what about the Gabriel Demon Hunters before the sealing? Such powers were even more troublesome than the Power of Yanar, traversing between different bodies, living in the shadows of history.

Just like that, constantly changing shells, continuing to this day...

Joy mixed with fear, complex emotions surged to his heart. Lawrence looked at the New Pope, this mysterious person who suddenly usurped the position of Pope. He was also curious about the New Pope’s identity, Lawrence needed to uncover more secrets.

”Cardinal Medici? It’s not him.”

Another voice sounded, a woman, but under this vast dome, there were only Lawrence and the New Pope confronting each other, no trace of a third person. But soon they saw.

In a corner of the shadows, old dust continued to fall, outlining a human-shaped silhouette in the dim light. The woman didn’t occupy anyone’s body, merely maintained the form of a ghost, her voice directly resonating in their minds.

”It’s been a long time since the Static Holy Temple welcomed so many visitors at once... guests who are still alive.”

The New Pope let out an eerie laugh, clearly these two before him were entirely different from the sort of things he was familiar with. In the exploration of this world’s [Truth], the New Pope found new clues.

”So if you guests have come here not to kill me, what is it you want to do?”

The New Pope was already accustomed to fighting such strange ghosts; he appeared very confident.

”To verify something,” the woman replied.

”You seem to know a lot?”

Lawrence asked, staring at that indistinguishable void, where the falling dust twisted and scattered.

”Oh, just average, but not as much as you know, isn’t that right?” The woman’s words were filled with amusement.

Lawrence’s gaze was somber, implying the woman recognized him, but he was currently occupying someone else’s body, so how could he be recognized? Moreover, on the surface, Lawrence was already dead, perished in a deadly duel with Lorenzo.

”Do you know each other?”

The New Pope found the situation becoming intriguing, the three of them speculating about each other’s thoughts, trying to discern the other’s intentions.

”In reality, to some extent, everyone has a mutual ’connection,’ don’t they?”

The woman gazed at the deep black well, even though she had no physical form, the two men could feel that real gaze.

Her gaze fell upon the Well of Ascension, the origin of the Demon Hunters, the origin of the Secret Blood.

”It is coming.”

The woman’s voice interrupted their thoughts; both the New Pope and Lawrence showed confused expressions, but soon the New Pope discerned that familiar feeling, drawing out his bright silver Nail Sword, poised like a fierce tiger.

A vicious intent surged from his body, akin to a real shockwave impacting the surroundings.

Lawrence also drew a short sword, but his battle intent wasn’t high. The body he currently occupied was just an ordinary, cowardly one, lacking the ability to fight in such an intense battle.

”You can sense them?”

The New Pope inquired, this was an ability he hadn’t seen before.

”It’s only that I’m very familiar with them. Like Demon Hunters and Demons, we are adversaries, understanding each other, yet originating from the same source.”