Gun of Ashes

”Eve, I often hear Arthur mentioning you, saying you always want to know what exactly is behind your anomalies, and he’s quite puzzled by it... actually, he’s just too concerned about you, afraid you’ll be hit by some so-called impacts, trying to shield you from any winds and storms.”

In the dim light, several aluminothermic rifles ignited, exuding a scorching temperature, the faint glow illuminating faces either terrified or solemn.

”Do you think you truly understand Demons? Do you really think they’re just terrifying monsters? Actually, it was Lorenzo who harmed you, that madman is too strong. With him around, even if a group of Demons came charging over, as long as he kindles the Secret Blood, the situation is firmly under control. But now Lorenzo is gone, and you are facing a real battlefield, our Purification Mechanism’s battlefield with Demons, cruel and merciless, where everyone might die.”

”...”

Eve remained silent, an oppressive silence that was suffocating.

She wanted to come up with a better plan to escape the current predicament, but she couldn’t think of anything, it seemed like this brutal plan was the only hope.

Countless emotions were suppressing Eve’s mind and soul. She looked at those few joyous lunatics, they were still smiling and talking about something. Eve wanted to tell them, you’re all going to die, but if she said it, could they even comprehend what ”death” is?

It was indeed a difficult feeling. Although the days at Black Mountain Hospital weren’t pleasant, the singing and dancing with these lunatics was indeed joyful, and this joy was about to shatter.

The burning firelight illuminated Bluebird’s face, he showed no emotion, as if making such a decision was already second nature to him.

If such an Upper-Rank Knight was like this, what about Arthur? Has he also made tougher decisions than this?

Suddenly Eve seemed to understand Arthur, though unfortunately, she didn’t know if she’d have a chance to tell him any of this.

”Can you give me a few minutes?” Eve asked.

Although it was unclear what Eve wanted to do, Bluebird still nodded, agreeing to her actions.

Eve turned around, immediately pulling up Old Cole, dragging those few cheerful lunatics over.

”Hey, we’re going to play a game... no, a battle!”

Hearing battle, Old Cole’s eyes lit up. As a Five-star Admiral, he was yearning to return to the front line.

”What’s going on, Commander Eve?”

The titles were getting stranger, yet in this damned situation, Eve actually felt like laughing, but immediately followed by deeper sorrow.

”What, has the battle situation worsened?”

The weak firelight illuminated Eve’s somewhat sorrowful face, drenched in sweat, as if she had fallen into a puddle and struggled to climb out.

”No... that’s right, we’ve been surrounded by the enemy forces, staying here will only lead to total annihilation, but there’s a new escape plan now, I’ve named it ’Ghost Catcher,’ once the door opens, everyone just runs as fast as you can, run anywhere, just get far away and find a place with no people to hide, be careful not to be caught by those ghosts, clear?”

”Ghost Catcher? So childish, not a bit sub...” Delun’s words were cut off by Eve’s voice.

”This guy Delun is a spy, a war criminal! Take him along, find a way to send him back to Old Dunling for a military trial!”

With Eve’s order, Gavin detained Delun, not loosening his grip no matter how much he protested.

”So that’s it. Once the door opens, everyone must try hard to escape, don’t get caught by the ghosts.”

The lunatics nodded, still so joyful, as if this was really just a game, a grand fictional battle.

”Are you doing this to make yourself feel better? They won’t survive,” Bluebird heard some childish words.

”There has to be a glimmer of hope, right? As long as one lunatic survives, it’s a great victory for humanity, isn’t it?”

Eve seemed to have adjusted her emotions, speaking earnestly, ”And besides, are you trying to make yourself feel better too, praying to something called God?”

Bluebird was stunned, then let go of his tightly held hand, allowing the silver cross necklace to fall.

”Are all you Purification Mechanism people so cold-hearted?”

”Just rational enough and aware of death.”

Bluebird and Eve walked side by side towards the sealed-off door. While walking, Bluebird couldn’t help but turn back and look at those patients.

”According to the evacuation regulations, those prioritized to be evacuated here were all soldiers or Knights of the Purification Mechanism, but they lost their sanity due to the Demons’ corrosion, becoming patients at Black Mountain Hospital.”

”So, most of them were once your comrades, right?”

”Yes.”

”But now you have to sacrifice them.”

”They’ll understand me, everyone is aware of their duty, confronting Demons is like lighting a fire in the dark, to not let that fire be extinguished, we’ll plunge into the flames one after another, everyone is prepared for death.”

A faint pain emerged in his chest, Bluebird’s gaze eventually settled on the face of a patient, an old man who kept babbling about war criminals and military ranks.

His appearance was unclear, but vaguely Bluebird felt a sense of familiarity, like he had seen him somewhere before.

Anyway, there was no need to pay attention to these things, Bluebird attributed this bizarre anomaly to the Demons’ erosion. Under its influence, everyone’s breathing in the safe house had become heavier.

Standing in front of the door, Bluebird took one last look at Eve by his side.

”Are you ready? To step through the gates of Hell.”

Eve didn’t speak, just tightened her grip on the Willow Blade in her hand. This time there were no Demon Hunters to save her, she faced the most real battlefield against Demons.

The massive steel gates slowly lifted, the stench of blood thick enough to solidify, slamming into her face.

Beyond this gate, was Hell.