Gun of Ashes

The woman maintained her elegance and calmness, unaffected by the terrifying murderous intent, and then the intense erosion began to expand from in front of the new Pope and Lawrence.

”It’s coming!”

In an instant, invisible gravity twisted the surrounding space with all its might, forming a twisted singularity with black arc light. Then, in the core of that invisible singularity, countless white bones protruded from within.

It was an arm, a skeletal arm lacking flesh, but as it extended from nothingness, crimson flesh began to grow along the bones’ surface. It did so with such speed that if one looked closely enough, they could see muscles aligning uniformly and blood vessels forming and weaving through them, ultimately cloaked by newly formed skin.

As if it was some kind of forbidden ritual, an invisible gate opened within this black arc light. First, an arm passed through the gate, then a head, then a body.

Just as seen before, flesh extended over the skeleton, followed by an even more abhorrent sight.

It was a humanoid creature that appeared from thin air, with half of its body as stark white bones and the other half enveloped and healed by flesh. Such ”creation” continued, and within a few seconds, a living humanoid creature appeared before the three of them.

The newborn body seemed somewhat unaccustomed, standing with a slight wobble, while the ground beneath it had sunk deeply. That part of the ground seemed obliterated by the arc light, or perhaps it was precisely that vanished part that brought this creature into existence.

It seemed accustomed to such a posture, then cast its hollow gaze towards Lawrence and the new Pope, light illuminating its body, skin an almost sickly pale with not a hint of impurity. In the next moment, deformed wings unfolded from its back, with seemingly soft feathers stained with viscous liquid, interweaving yet producing steel-like sounds.

”Angel...”

Lawrence recognized the form. When he completely dissolved the Holy Coffin, the coursing Holy Silver also contained corpses similar to this.

But then he clenched his teeth so hard that the great force produced a sound, blood flowing from the corners of his mouth. The pain temporarily brought him back to clarity, and he realized this was no damn angel, it was the Holy Grail.

It was as if he had touched upon some horrific Truth. In a flash, all of Lawrence’s previous speculations and constructs regarding the Holy Grail were overturned.

What on earth is going on?

”Have you seen it too? I thought you were supposed to be of its kind.”

The new Pope looked at Lawrence, speaking with a relaxed tone. Lawrence’s current expression was one of extreme terror. He thought he was calm enough, but his body could no longer withstand his consciousness.

”What on earth is going on!” Lawrence asked.

”I’d like to ask you the same,” the new Pope shifted his gaze from Lawrence to stare at the angel.

”However, this is the first time I’ve seen their ’birth’ process.”

Sainy Loter spoke as he walked towards the angel, blood flowing from his palm and spreading over the slender Nail Sword, followed by a blazing white flame raging upon the steel.

The woman continued observing all of this from the side, speaking softly.

”When a formless will gains a body, it can interfere with material. But likewise, once possessing a body, it can also be interfered with...”

The ominous wings flapped forcefully, and the overwhelming sound of steel intertwined and overlapped, stirring up ascending white flames.