Gun of Ashes

”What’s going on?” Eve asked.

”What else could it be, a demon invasion. But this time it’s strange, even terrifying. On the surface, there’s a defense line forged by the troops led by Gawain, and Percival is also swiftly moving to defend the research area. Yet the demons still reached here, so quickly... You know we invested a lot of Armor of Original Sin. Even if the new Order attacked, the research area couldn’t be overrun so swiftly.”

Whether from tension or heat, more sweat streamed down Bluebird’s cheeks. Due to the corruption, there was only static noise in the communicator, cutting off the only connection to the outside world. Now, everything depended on oneself.

”How... could this be...”

Eve was stunned as well. It seemed like there was no hope at all. She nervously looked around; under the dim yellow light, behind the protective goggles were eyes filled with fear. Maybe before the demons break down the door, chaos will erupt internally.

”You can feel it too, right? When it comes to demons, you should be more sensitive than us.” Bluebird said to Eve, ”Perhaps only you and I can resist the demon’s corruption here.”

”Me? More sensitive?”

Listening to Bluebird, Eve couldn’t help recalling her body’s various abnormalities before. That damned Ingwig captain, she wanted to continue asking, to ask if Bluebird knew something, but it was clearly not appropriate to discuss this under the current circumstances.

”Alright, let’s not talk about this for now. Do you have any ideas?”

As Eve spoke, she revealed the Willow Blade in her hand. Though the weapon was small, under her wild demeanor, it became extremely dangerous.

Bluebird was stunned, a bit unclear about what this girl was up to, but there was no time to think about that now.

”Staying here, the demon’s corruption will eventually drive these patients into madness, and these patients were already a bunch of lunatics, having suffered the effects of corruption. They might be more easily transformed into demons than normal people.”

”So, continuing like this, they would be the ones turning into demons and killing us first?”

Eve said, glancing at the patients beside her. They seemed completely unaware of the fear, but from some other patients becoming increasingly irritable, the influence indeed existed and was continually intensifying.

”Though I don’t know what’s happened, the demons have indeed reached the research area. Thinking of the worst case, the ground troops have been completely wiped out, or they can’t hold on.” Bluebird said.

”So how do you plan to save yourself?” Eve asked.

”We can’t break out with just a few of us. This is the second safe house, and at the end of the corridor is the third safe house. From the sounds earlier, the door to the third safe house hasn’t been opened. If possible, we need to meet up with those in the third safe house. I remember Red Falcon is in charge there.”

Bluebird planned everything that followed.

”What about these patients? Leave them here?” Eve asked.

These patients certainly wouldn’t cooperate with the plan. But leaving them here, if the demons continue to lurk around, they might transform into demons.

”If I could, I’d kill them all. Leaving them here will only turn them into demons.” Bluebird said mercilessly.

Such a response obviously startled Eve, but what was more shocking came later.

”But not this time. If we kill them all here, there are only a few of us, wasting energy and ammunition, not to mention possibly provoking a retaliation...” Bluebird’s gaze fell on the tense medical staff, ”Those in white coats, though they often dissect creatures, they’ve never witnessed a real slaughterhouse. In such a confined space... killing will only add to their psychological burden.”

”So what are you going to do?” Eve felt a bit uneasy.

”Let them out.” Bluebird answered.

”Let them out?”

”Yes, let them out. We don’t know what’s outside or how many demons are near... Ultimately, for us upper-rank Knights, and you, Eve, we’re just a bit stronger than ordinary people, a bit braver, less likely to die.”

Alone, we can’t fight the demons. Only by banding together, forming a steel tide, can we fight against despair. Moreover, considering the current weapons, escaping would be a miracle.”

Bluebird said, picking up the Aluminothermic Rifle in hand. Such a weapon could effectively kill demons, but no one knew how many demons were outside.

”Let these patients go out and use them to distract the demons, buying us time.”

Eve was stunned, stiffly turning her head, looking at the few jubilant lunatics, then at the serious Bluebird. She was about to say something but was sternly interrupted by Bluebird.

”Don’t talk about being cruel or ruthless, about ethics or morals. We are fighting demons, fighting despair. Unfortunately, we are not Demon Hunters and don’t have that powerful Armor of Original Sin. All we can do is sacrifice something to step over that thin layer of ice.”

Bluebird spoke as he gestured to the soldiers behind him, appearing to have already made up his mind, merely coming to inform Eve.