Gun of Ashes

Outside the porthole, the fierce wind smeared rain onto the transparent glass, and the view was filled with a lead-gray storm, under the heavy dark clouds, flashes of lightning could be seen faintly bursting, as if some primordial beast was roaring at the core of the storm.

Lorenzo held the few aviation manuals Oscar had torn for him in one hand, while the other hand pressed away on the complex control panel. After countless tries, Lorenzo finally got the big guy moving.

The iron whale traversed through the storm, and since taking off, the violent shaking hadn’t stopped, as if countless giant hands were pounding on the airship. If not for carrying enough ballast, this civilian airship might have been swept up by the storm the moment it ascended, torn into pieces.

This was an extremely risky act, but for Lorenzo, he was already accustomed to it, as if walking in the dark seabed, he could only rely on the compass to roughly judge direction, and looking down from the porthole, he could see the entire Old Dunling swallowed by the storm, the Thames River flooded onto the banks, surged onto the streets, as if the entire earth was sinking, devoured by the raging ocean.

People hid at home, enjoying this rare warmth, while workers built brick walls to prevent the cold rain from pouring into the furnace.

Lorenzo could still see those blazing fire rains, in the direction of Black Mountain Hospital, in that beautiful ruin, the fire still hadn’t died.

Uncertainty lingered over whether the demon tide there had been completely dealt with, but... there was nothing much to worry about.

Thinking this, Lorenzo glanced towards the rear of the cabin, there it was dark, no lights were on.

He had already taken on the most dangerous work, this was Lorenzo’s final gift to this city.

Lost in thought, Lorenzo took out a cigarette and smoked, picking up the drink beside him. This civilian airship was essentially meant for passengers to enjoy, with drinks readily available.

”They say I’m worthless, cold and heartless, no one cares, they say I’m hopeless, indifferent and ruthless, with no way out.”

Blowing smoke, feet propped on the control panel, he hummed a strange tune, surrounded by an apocalyptic sight, Lorenzo felt a bit odd for a moment, feeling like some emperor, feeling like he was controlling everything amidst the disaster, but in reality, he controlled nothing, merely feeling a bit cool.

Slightly squinting his eyes, as if he was about to fall asleep, yet the old man’s face relentlessly emerged in his mind.

During the fierce battle earlier, Lorenzo hadn’t had time to think about these things, now finally having a moment to breathe, they followed him like a nightmare.

Perhaps too shocked, or maybe shocked enough, his heart had no major fluctuations.

So this is how everything was, this is how I was.

”Dunling Tower calling Reichenbach, you have not received permission to ascend, please land immediately!”

The anxious voice broke through the channel, interrupting Lorenzo’s thoughts.

Lorenzo was somewhat puzzled about how a communication could reach him, after a brief daze, he suddenly understood, it turned out the high tower still controlled the air routes, usually controlling the war airships.

The voice’s owner sounded agitated, perhaps not expecting a madman to pilot an airship in this damned weather, let alone a civilian airship.

Under such adverse conditions, a civilian airship crashing would bring huge disaster, if mistakenly crashing into some factory, it would be even worse.

He couldn’t understand what this guy wanted to do, seeking death needn’t be done on this day, right?

”This is Captain Lorenzo Holmes!”

Lorenzo responded, full of excitement.

”Heading north! Full throttle! Still ascending!”

He had no intention of answering seriously.

The giant whale accelerated forward, the wind greatly hindered its advance, buffeting its huge airbag, but this could not stop it, as if a retreat, Lorenzo headed away from Old Dunling.

”Please return to the port immediately!”

The voice seemed to still harbor some hope, continuing to shout.

But this time, Lorenzo changed his excited demeanor, speaking with a lower tone.

”Can’t go back, friend, I am the ferryman of the dead, I must send these guests to hell before returning to the world of the living.”

He then assumed a casual stance.

”After all, love what you do, right?”

Lorenzo said this, his gaze turned aside, where weapons were neatly arranged, armor-piercing hammer, nail sword, shotgun, and others.

Sometimes he remembered the world he saw in the Divine Favor Baptism, recalled how in that world, there were things from famous video games, where in that game, the protagonist would read a section at save points before facing the final enemy fully armed.

In this sense, save points were indeed everywhere, but from his perspective, this should be the last one.

”What are you talking about!”

The other party increasingly felt Lorenzo was a lunatic.

”Ah, it’s nothing, chat a bit, in this damn place it’s only you and me, who knows what will happen next?”

Lorenzo self-narrated.

”I must say, this job is truly high-risk, maybe I’ll just die in some corner... Of course, I might not die, after all, I’m the invincible Lorenzo Holmes, but...”