Gun of Ashes

This is a story long sealed in dust.

Lorenzo stood amidst the desolate wilderness, weak flames flickering as the wind carried dust over the ancient Nail Sword. Corpses had long decayed beyond recognition, and even the evening sun appeared a deathly red.

Unsure if it was an illusion or something else interfering, Lorenzo heard harrowing howls in his ears, the scrape of metal against metal, flesh being torn apart inch by inch, creating a fine, shattering sound.

The Demon Hunters battled upon the wilderness. They were strong, the Secret Blood burning endlessly, releasing forbidden beasts from the cages of their hearts.

Transformed into monsters, yet even so, they still couldn’t withstand the most primal malice and baseness.

Blood gushed forth, eventually forming streams that soaked through the parched earth...

”Lorenzo de’ Medici was too naive. He naïvely believed that everyone was looking forward to the arrival of the Golden Era, but little did he know, people cared more about present power and interests... The most laughable thing is, at that time, I was just as naive as him.”

Lawrence took a deep breath, perhaps it had been too long since he recalled these things; the memories had become blurry.

”Ideals, they’re still too naive. Only those tangible, visible things are worth driving people mad.”

”What happened here... once?”

Lorenzo asked softly, perhaps because of the [Gap], his emotions were being affected by Lawrence; immense despair and anger filled his heart, and for a moment he could barely hold his sword, losing the strength to fight Lawrence.

”How long ago was it...? I can’t quite remember. In any case, a long time ago, Lorenzo de’ Medici’s power grew ever stronger. He secretly manipulated the Pope and supported me to become the Dean and a member of the Cardinals.

The entire Evangelical Church was completely under his control, divine authority and power stood with him. We all thought everything would progress for the best, that nothing could stop us. Whatever we wanted to do, we could achieve it.

The Golden Era was within reach.”

Lawrence found a raised spot in the wilderness to sit, the Nail Sword resting across his thighs, enjoying the rare tranquility as if after a battle.

Lorenzo’s gaze grew heavy. He found it difficult to describe his complex emotions now. For a moment, the boiling urge for revenge subsided; Lorenzo only wanted to know what exactly happened back then.

”Those times were truly beautiful, but unfortunately, we still didn’t recognize the essence of human nature... I imagine you know the story that followed? The cardinals began to rebel, secretly gathering power. The Evangelical Church looked strong on the surface, but it was roiling with undercurrents beneath.”

Lawrence murmured, gazing into the wilderness.

”This is what happened during that time. Lorenzo de’ Medici ultimately lost; he compromised. He realized he was just too old if he were a few decades younger, perhaps risking the possible schism of the Church, he would’ve slaughtered all the dissenters.

But he was too old, his body no longer robust, even his mind clouded. Perhaps he could preserve himself, but that didn’t include me.”

”My rift with him emerged at that time.”

Lawrence raised his hand and rubbed his head vigorously; perhaps he had traversed the [Gap] too many times, his memories also became muddled, and often he could see strange visions, entangling his memories into chaos.

”I said, leave everything to me. If you are too old, can’t lift the sword, let me settle those enemies, kill them all, leave none. By that time, there would only be one voice left in the Church, the voice of Lorenzo de’ Medici.

I controlled the Demon Hunting Order, rooted beneath the Saint Nalos Cathedral. As long as he gave the order, I could control the Saint Nalos Cathedral, and even the entire Seven Hills. The Holy Hall Knight Order was indeed strong and numerous, but by the time they reacted, it would be too late.”

Lawrence’s expression gradually turned ferocious, immersing himself in the anticipated massacre, reveling in his revenge.

”I would sentence those heretics to the stake, without exception.”

”And then?”

Lorenzo asked, looking at Lawrence on the slope. This guy was completely engrossed in the story he was narrating.

”And then? Then Lorenzo de’ Medici gave up, he compromised, maybe unwilling for the Evangelical Church to split, or for some other reason, he chose to retreat into seclusion. But I also know what happened later, the Silencer, Holy Coffin, Night of the Holy Arrival...”

Lawrence laughed, but the laughter didn’t last long before he became desolate again.

”Truly worthy of him. I thought he had compromised, but in reality, he hadn’t; he chose another way to exact his revenge... But it was still too late, Lorenzo de’ Medici, his revenge came too late, or I wouldn’t have walked this broken path.”

His gaze fell upon Lorenzo, as if, as Lawrence said, they were of the same kind. Lorenzo didn’t deeply feel it, but for Lawrence, it was different.

”After all, a Demon Hunter is merely a weapon. A weapon cannot have its own will or power beyond its master. Unfortunately, I possessed both. After Lorenzo de’ Medici compromised, I no longer had protection. He also told me, let’s leave together, but I refused; I didn’t want all my efforts to go to waste.