Gun of Ashes

”Watch out! Red Falcon!”

Eve shouted as she opened fire, the bullet struck the flesh, but failed to kill him; the body was incredibly resilient, merely pausing for a moment before swinging the blade at Red Falcon.

The Choir warriors arrived, and in an instant, Eve and Red Falcon were heavily surrounded, even though they were just a short distance from Miguel.

Eve made a decisive decision; she quickly emptied the bullets from her pistol, but failed to hit Miguel. A warrior from the Choir blocked the path directly, causing a spray of blood mist.

The metallic screeching continued incessantly nearby; Eve’s warning successfully alerted Red Falcon, allowing him to prepare, but unfortunately, with his already injured state, he stood no chance against the monsters empowered by Secret Blood.

The Folding Blade was easily suppressed by the sword blade; Red Falcon lifted his injured arm, straining to hold the hilt up, but couldn’t resist the monstrous strength, kneeling down as the pressure of the blade cut his chest.

”So, I still won after all...”

With a smile, Miguel watched the warriors coming to his aid. With such heavy protection, Eve and Red Falcon had no chance to approach him, let alone kill him.

Driven by a frenzy, Eve resisted without concern for personal harm; she raised Meteor, the sights drifting aimlessly. At this range, hitting anywhere would cause an explosion killing a large number of people.

The warriors didn’t give Eve a chance to pull the trigger, as blades fiercely struck the gun barrel. While not severing it, the force bent the barrel slightly, causing pain in Eve’s wrist and failing to hold onto Meteor.

It’s over, all over.

At this moment, Eve wasn’t worried about her personal safety; when Meteor slipped from her grasp, she realized she might not be able to kill Miguel.

No, there’s still a chance.

The warriors could only see a flash of silver light in Eve’s hand, then a cold sensation surged along their throat, piercing through flesh straight into the spine.

Willow Blade pierced through his neck; as the blade wasn’t long enough, Eve quickly followed with a punch, driving it in completely.

The heart pounded violently; Eve surveyed her surroundings, realizing the mission likely failed, but she hadn’t lost yet. She’s a natural Ranger, possibly inferior to these Secret Blood-fueled berserkers, but she wouldn’t die easily.

More sword lights fell, like a dense rainstorm cutting off all Eve’s movements, about to slice her to pieces when gunfire rang out, bullets brushed past Eve, hitting the warriors. Though possibly not killing them, providing a slight opening in the deadly encirclement.

Eve lunged forward, one hand touching the ground, then pushed herself up, moving like a dance to slip through intersecting blades.

She rolled on the ground, quickly getting up and felt her abdomen, where blood flowed.

Eve was injured; she escaped the blades, but wasn’t unharmed.

Her arms, thighs, shoulders, and body bore multiple wounds, chaotic pain spreading from every inch, as if beasts were gnawing at her flesh.

”Red Falcon, are you still alive?”

In the chaotic battle, she lost sight of Red Falcon, unsure if he was alive, given his injuries, his situation should be more critical than hers.

No response, but then a dark figure swept past in front of her, Red Falcon advancing with a warrior as a shield, clutching the Folding Blade tightly and piercing his heart.

”Still alive... or at least dying.”

Red Falcon pulled the Folding Blade out of the flesh, hair wildly shaken and matted with blood on his face.

The feeling was awful, reminding him of the Black Mountain Hospital slaughter, where it was similar to now, fighting against the odds, yet surviving then, but this time was different.

Now he was in Gaulunaro, far from Ingwig’s homeland, without the Purification Mechanism’s army, only a damned intern by his side.

”So this is our daily work routine, who knows when we’ll die.”

Red Falcon slowly retreated, leaning toward Eve; the warriors closed in, realizing they were on their last legs, soon to collapse powerlessly after more struggle.

”Do you have any thoughts to share now?”

Eve tried to humor Red Falcon’s bad jokes to soothe inner fear.

”Thoughts, my thoughts are my vacation isn’t over yet! Isn’t that the saddest thing! I’m working my life away for that precious holiday, and now I’m going to die in this damned place.”

Red Falcon wiped his face hard; a moment ago, someone’s sword slashed open his eyebrow, blood flowing incessantly, turning his vision blood-red.

”Honestly, if someone could rescue me now, I’d give myself to them.”

Red Falcon was tired, leaning on the battered Folding Blade, trying to recover his strength.

”Do you think that’s possible?”

Eve wasn’t very convinced.

This was a doomed operation, like a curse; from the start, everything headed toward chaos, all preparations disrupted.