Gun of Ashes

”This... how is it possible?”

Listening to Lawrence’s words, a massive wave surged in the depths of Lorenzo’s heart.

He slowly raised his hand, gazing at the flames burning fiercely beneath the scale armor, the light so intense it seemed as if his body had already turned to fuel, burning away beneath the armor’s protection.

”The Secret Blood, the source of our powers, have you never pondered over the connection between us?”

Lawrence was in no hurry to attack, much like the teachings at the Demon Hunting Order, he instructed this young man who had long since mastered power but was completely unaware of it.

Leaning on the Nail Sword, standing amidst the sea of flames, his figure was so majestic, it was suffocating.

”In essence, the powers of a Demon Hunter are the usurpation of a Demon’s strength, the Alchemy Matrix guides it from the blood and controls it.”

Lorenzo’s gaze shifted slowly to Lawrence, recalling what Merlin had told him at Black Mountain Hospital.

What exactly is Authority?

Is it an inexplicable Extraordinary Power, or a ”phenomenon” that can be explained by existing knowledge?

”Nightmare Illusion, Stomach Chewing Grass... these more common demons, and some special existences we find hard to perceive...”

Burning demons, mysterious Silencers... there are still far too many unknowns in this world.

”In the end, this Authority is not some divine power, it originates from the Secret Blood, and like the Secret Blood, it is sinful, by nature, it is a Demon’s characteristic, and now, we have also gained Demon powers.”

Mere mortals could never achieve this extent, unknowingly they had long been elevated to a higher existence.

”Essentially, we are all part of the Demons now, Lorenzo, just Demons with reason. What are Demon Hunters, Authority, but gentle adornments, they cannot change the cruel and sinful nature we possess.”

Lawrence’s voice halted, indeed he had said enough, Lorenzo atop the high wall now understood everything clearly.

”Secret Blood, Authority, Demons...”

Lorenzo whispered softly, the Secret Blood within him burned intensely, but this frenzied power could not disturb him.

He thought of the answer.

”Yes... the answer has long been laid out before us, the Alchemy Matrix guides the power within the Secret Blood, meaning every Demon Hunter has multiple abilities, but confined by will and erosion, we’re destined to use only one.”

This is the weakness of mortals, even after becoming Demon Hunters, such will can barely control and bear the power and erosion of one Authority.

The Alchemy Matrix is both a guide and a restriction, just like the Silver Binding Bolt within.

Recalling the gradual mutation process of Demon Hunters, the flesh regeneration becomes stronger, Purifying Flame more intense, consciousness descends into madness... aren’t these the manifestations of Authority?

Authority·Yanar, Authority·Michael... this power had long manifested on Demon Hunters, but compared to the power guided out, it was too weak, too easily ignored by people.

With the elevation of Secret Blood Awakening, these forgotten powers will gradually return, and when they fully emerge, it will be when Demon Hunters can’t bear the erosion and die.

Near-immortal power, roaring flames, utterly mad consciousness.

Just like the threshold of Secret Blood Awakening, the more it elevates, the stronger the power, thus more Authorities revive, but at the moment power is gained, they’ve already been sentenced to death, consciousness irreversibly eroded, becoming one of the Demons.

Under the Critical Breakthrough, Lorenzo’s Secret Blood continuously elevated, thus he also obtained mutated powers, awakening this violent flame.

”Authority·Michael, guiding out the intensely hot Purifying Flame, the intensity far exceeds what ordinary Demon Hunters can handle... isn’t this the enhancement of Purifying Flame? Such power is evident in those out-of-control Demon Hunters.”

Lorenzo found his delayed realization laughable, though this information was so close to him, he was oblivious.

”Isn’t demonization like this? Enhancing the Purifying Flame, strengthening the regeneration of flesh, madness of the will, spreading the dissemination of erosion.”

These are all Authorities, overlapping Authorities, an irreversible path of fragmentation.

Then what about himself?

If that’s the case, mortal will can only control and bear the power and erosion of one Authority, Critical Breakthrough led Lorenzo into demonization, demonization brought multiple powers, logically he should have lost control too, but now Lorenzo was utterly rational, erosion had no effect on him.

Lorenzo thought of something.

”So, is this the ’Credentials’ and ’Ascension’?”

In the sea of fire, Lawrence nodded slightly, affirming.

”Authority·Gabriel is your ’Credentials,’ at the moment you obtained these ’Credentials’ your will had been ’Ascended.’

Upon witnessing these surging flames, Lawrence had realized, Lorenzo also wielded Authority·Gabriel, only then could he maintain rational combat.

Lorenzo thought he hid it well, but unbeknownst to him, he had long been exposed in Lawrence’s eyes.

Lawrence was very delighted, extremely happy, sometimes he felt sad for his loneliness, after all, walking alone on this path of ruin and destruction, it’s inevitable to feel loneliness, but now he met another like him.