Gun of Ashes

The entire corridor seemed to have been ravaged by unknown creatures, with narrow indentations stretching several meters along the iron walls. The lines and pipes beneath were completely exposed, accompanied by the sharp sound of steam, which spewed out from the gaps and filled the entire space.

The smell of blood mixed with rust, combined with the pervasive steam, created an indescribable sense of suffocation. A layer of water droplets clung to the surrounding metal, and there was a sound of liquid dripping behind the mist, with no one knowing if it was blood or just water.

”The game has started...”

Eve whispered, instinctively gripping the Willow Blade in her hand.

To the Demon’s body, this thing posed no threat at all; it wasn’t even a weapon. But it was all that Eve had, so she held it tightly.

The soldiers protected the medical staff as they evacuated, with Bluebird leading at the front. Everyone walked lightly, stepping into the water pooled on the floor, giving rise to soft splashes.

It seemed that the research area had indeed suffered an attack by something, with power cut off across the region. The clattering fans had long since ceased to operate, and the unreleased steam enveloped everyone, hindering visibility, while beyond the eerie mist, the emergency lights were blurred into large fields of light.

Everything before them was so bizarre, and under the Demon’s corrosion, it pushed the human mind into deeper oppression.

Walking through it all, Eve felt as if she had fallen into some strange nightmare.

The patients were also released. Though they had lost their sanity, they still had the instincts of creatures. Under this terrifying corrosion, the previously restless patients fell into silence. They could feel the power, the presence of some dreadful creatures nearby.

Some patients refused to leave the safe rooms, like children waking from nightmares, huddled in corners. Others, after a brief silence, ran fearfully into the dense mist. Eve could only watch them leave until the fog swallowed their figures completely, until the sound of their footsteps splashing in the water gradually faded.

More patients appeared bewildered, both frightened and confused, like mice dragged out of their holes under the sunlight, nervously looking around, unsure of where to go.

Yet some of those enthusiastic maniacs seemed to genuinely take the situation as a game. Old Cole and others organized a group of patients, leading them away sneakily. After a brief appointment, these patients were awarded different ranks, fighting for Ingwig.

As they left, Old Cole even excitedly gave Eve a thumbs up, seemingly mouthing something like ”meet at the victory in the rear.”

Eve was amused yet unsure of what to say, only able to watch as they departed.

They moved slowly, soldiers armed and protecting the medical staff within the group, with Bluebird at the forefront, vigilantly watching the surroundings.

Holding an Aluminothermic Rifle in one hand and a communicator in the other, Bluebird continuously checked the signal after leaving the safe room. Escaping here didn’t guarantee survival; only regrouping with Arthur and the main force could ensure safety.

Yet the communicator was still filled with the chaotic sound of static. Amid the silence and corrosion, the chaotic static distorted into some kind of eerie wailing, as if on the other end of the channel lay an endless horde of Demons.

This place remained under the influence of the Demon’s erosion, and the Geiger Counter pinned to Bluebird’s chest emitted a steady clicking.

Bluebird abruptly raised his hand to signal the group to halt, then crouched down, gently touching the water pooled at his feet.

Under the mist and lighting, everything visible along the corridor was dyed an eerie color, losing its original form. After walking for so long, many had assumed they were only stepping in ordinary water. But from what Bluebird felt with his touch, this wasn’t condensed steam but blood, thick and reeking of metal.

Slowly straightening his body, he looked solemnly at the endless mist ahead. His fingers touched the wall and wiped away water droplets, also encountering something sticky. Moving forward revealed one grotesque indentation after another, still hot from residual heat, which burned Bluebird’s fingers.

He had already pictured that scene in his mind: Demons rushing through the corridor, soldiers firing, burning bullets melting the walls, leaving one indentation after another. Sadly, they couldn’t kill those Demons quickly enough, being approached and then cut down mercilessly in half.

Blood was sprayed evenly everywhere, the flesh consumed by those greedy shells.

”How do you feel?”

Bluebird’s gaze fell on Eve. As the final product of the Ranger program, Eve was a born Ranger. The current specialization endured by the Upper-Rank Knights was merely a degraded version of the Ranger program. In this situation, Eve’s innate Intuition might prove useful.

”Alright, just a bit strange,” Eve glanced at the Geiger Counter on Bluebird, which continued its relentless clicking, ”The Demon’s presence is here, yet we haven’t encountered any of them.”

”Yes, these bloodthirsty Demons wouldn’t abandon hunting live humans once they smell their scent, but until now... there’s been nothing.”